Tamim Iqbal's Sudden Collapse: A Day That Stunned Bangladesh Cricket
March 24, 2025 wasn’t supposed to be an extraordinary day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Mohammedan Sporting Club and Shinepukur Cricket Club prepared for another high-stakes Dhaka Premier League (DPL) game. Then, out of nowhere, the cricket world was left rattled. Just minutes after the toss, 36-year-old Tamim Iqbal — face of Bangladeshi cricket for over a decade and a recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champion captain — complained of severe discomfort. He didn’t get the chance to walk it off. Moments later, he collapsed on the field.
Panic usually isn’t part of a cricket match, but that’s what gripped the stadium. Medical teams sprinted in. Tamim wasn’t just winded; he was fighting for his life. On field, paramedics used CPR and deployed a defibrillator. Spectators, teammates, and TV viewers saw scenes usually reserved for medical emergencies, not cricket.
He was rushed by ambulance to KPJ Evercare Hospital in Savar. There, doctors immediately diagnosed a severe heart attack. This wasn’t just a scare — Tamim had a blocked artery restricting blood flow. In the emergency room, surgeons performed angioplasty and inserted a stent, buying his heart time to recover.
Uncertainty and Support: What’s Next for the National Icon?
Tamim wasn’t out of danger after that overnight procedure. The next two days played out like scenes from a medical drama, with the cricket world holding its breath. On March 26, doctors said he was awake and stable, but everyone who knows heart disease understood the caution. Abdul Wadud Chowdhury, director of Bangladesh’s National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, said it plainly: the first 72 hours would be crucial and Tamim would need strict monitoring even after leaving the hospital.
By March 28, Tamim was cleared to return home, something that came as a relief but not a full comfort. His doctors said his heart function had returned to normal for now, but stressed this doesn’t guarantee the end of trouble. Recovery from heart attacks, especially for athletes, isn’t as simple as taking a rest. Tamim will undergo months of close medical supervision. His future on the field? A medical board — not selectors — will decide if he plays competitive cricket ever again, a decision due no sooner than mid-year.
This sudden crisis has left a dent in Bangladesh’s cricket community. Teammates, coaches, fans, and media personalities flooded social media and hospital corridors with support. The hashtag #TamimStrong trended across Bangladesh, and his teammates rallied with emotional messages and silent prayers in the dressing room. Tamim himself expressed gratitude in a brief message, crediting quick medical response and fan support for his survival.
This isn’t the ending anyone pictured for a player who retired from international cricket only in January. In his final months, Tamim still shone: he captained Fortune Barishal to a BPL title and cracked two centuries in the DPL. Now, the story of Bangladesh’s beloved opener has taken a sharp and sobering turn. The whole nation — and the wider cricket world — will be watching, and waiting, to see where Tamim’s journey leads next.