Tamim calls for calm
Vice-captain confident of improved display against England
Last Updated: March 7, 2011 3:19pm
Tamim: Plea to fans
Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal has pleaded with supporters to keep their emotions in check when they take on England in a crunch World Cup showdown on Friday.
The two sides meet in Chittagong with the Tigers knowing that anything but a victory will give them an almighty mountain to climb if they are to reach the quarter-final stage.
Extra policing provisions have been put in place for the fixture after Bangladesh fans attacked the West Indies team bus with stones after Friday's heavy defeat in Dhaka.
And, with emotions sure to run high in Chittagong, Tamim said: "I request the fans not to do any silly things.
"We will win some days and lose some days as that is cricket and they need to support us through good times as well as bad times."
Serious
Bangladesh faced the wrath of fans after a rampant West Indies attack skittled them out for just 58 last time out.
The fans booed the Bangladesh team at the ground and threw their shoes on to the road in front of their bus on their return to the team hotel, a huge insult in the country.
The attack on the West Indies team bus was taken very seriously by Bangladesh security forces and politicians and the nation's elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested at least 28 in connection with the stoning of the bus.
Police said they also detained a fan in Chittagong on Sunday for showing his thumbs to Bangladesh players, again a big insult in the country.
Vice-captain Tamim hopes an improved display against England would change the perception of fans about the Bangladesh team.
"I am sure one good game will change the total scenario and you will see a different Bangladesh team," he said.
Tamim Iqbal
