Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal is recovering in hospital after suffering a heart attack during a domestic match, cricket officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old was leading Mohammedan Sporting Club in a Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League fixture on Monday when he complained of severe chest pain and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.

“He is now better. He talked to his family members and also walked briefly at the hospital,” club official Tariqul Islam said.

Mohammedan’s physiotherapist, Enamul Haque, added that Tamim was in a stable condition and was likely to be transferred to another medical facility soon.

“We had to act quickly to save his life, and fortunately, we did that,” Enamul told AFP.

Tamim was in critical condition upon arrival at the hospital, where doctors conducted an emergency procedure to implant stents and clear an artery blockage, according to medical director Razeeb Hasan.

Cricketing fraternity extends support

News of Tamim’s health crisis prompted an outpouring of concern from the cricketing community, with former and current players offering prayers for his recovery.

“Please pray that my brother Tamim recovers quickly and returns to the game!” Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan wrote on social media.

Tamim’s heart attack coincided with Shakib’s 38th birthday, but the star cricketer said he was unable to celebrate due to the distressing news.

Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh also extended his wishes, writing: “You’ve faced tough opponents before and come out stronger, this will be no different. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Stay strong.”

Bangladesh’s most prolific batsman

Tamim, who represented Bangladesh in 391 international matches from 2007 to 2023, remains one of the country’s most celebrated cricketers. He amassed over 15,000 runs across formats and remains the only Bangladeshi batsman to have scored centuries in all three formats of the game.

He served as Bangladesh’s one-day captain before retiring from international cricket last year.