Tamim Iqbal's Sudden Collapse Shocks Bangladesh Cricket
No one expected a routine domestic cricket match to turn life-or-death in seconds. But on March 24, 2025, the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) witnessed a crisis that chilled the Bangladesh cricket community—star opener and former captain Tamim Iqbal suffered a major heart attack, right in the middle of captaining Mohammedan Sporting Club at the BKSP ground in Savar.
The match against Shinepukur Cricket Club had just passed its tense halfway point when Tamim, age 36 and known for gritty opening stands, felt severe chest pain. He tried to shake it off, heading back onto the field. But as he made his way out, calamity struck—Tamim suddenly collapsed. From there, everything sped up. Mohammedan’s physiotherapist Yakub Chowdhury saw what was happening and responded instantly, starting chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth in front of stunned players and staff. Without that rapid CPR, doctors later said, Tamim’s chances would have been nearly zero.
Paramedics arrived, attaching an ECG that revealed dangerous cardiac rhythms. On the way to the hospital, Tamim required electrical shocks to restart his heart. What followed was an emergency angioplasty, which eventually stabilized his condition. When Tamim finally woke up in a Dhaka hospital bed, news of his near-death escape had already swept through local media, cricket WhatsApp groups, and social media timelines.
Heroic Response and National Outpouring of Support
Within hours, key figures from Bangladesh cricket rushed to Tamim’s side. Teammates like Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Taijul Islam checked in personally, while a stream of supporters, club officials, journalists, and even rival players gathered outside the hospital for updates. The Bangladesh Cricket Board president Faruque Ahmed issued heartfelt thanks to Chowdhury, the medical team, and the government health department for swift action that kept tragedy at bay.
For many fans, watching Tamim—fresh off a major Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) title run and two blazing DPL centuries this season—lying in a hospital bed was brutally jarring. Just days earlier, he was raising his bat, soaking in applause. Now, he needed round-the-clock specialist care, with his playing career up in the air.
After being discharged on March 28, Tamim shared a heartfelt Facebook post describing his ordeal as a "near-death experience." He singled out Yakub Chowdhury for saving his life and thanked fans for "overwhelming love and support." That online message quickly went viral, drawing emotional responses from cricketers worldwide and the Bangladeshi public, who have followed Tamim from his teenage debut to his ascent as a cricketing icon.
The incident has already led to questions about player health screenings and emergency protocols across Bangladesh’s domestic leagues. But for now, the biggest question looms over Tamim’s own future: Will the man who once carried Bangladesh’s batting hopes take to the pitch again, or has fate written a new chapter for his life after cricket?
