Tamim's gift to Rumana

With just two days left for the Bangladesh women's cricket team's departure for South Africa on Saturday for a five-match ODI and three-match T20I series, ODI skipper Rumana Ahmed was beset by worry till yesterday because two of her bats were stolen during the camp in Sylhet.

Rumana told Bangladesh men's team's dashing opener Tamim Iqbal about her predicament and asked for a bat, and the left-hander gifted her one of his best CA bats at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

Tamim, who is known for his generosity, immediately asked Rumana to come and collect the bat from the media manager's office at Bangladesh's home of cricket in Mirpur. When Tamim handed over his bat in the afternoon, the women's captain nervously asked: "How much should I pay for it?" 

Tamim smiled. "No need; it's a gift and I don't take money when I give bats."

"Two of my bats were stolen just before the training camp in Sylhet and I was facing some problems because of that. I have shared the matter with Tamim bhai and he gifted me one of his bats. I am very happy that our brothers are also supporting us," a beaming Rumana told reporters yesterday.

"I have kept that bat for a long time to play in West Indies [where Bangladesh are scheduled to tour in July-August]," said Tamim. "As we will be playing Tests in Antigua and Jamaica [where the pitches are fast], I kept a lightweight bat. Since Rumana asked for a bat I thought that she needs it more than me and I hope she will play better with a lightweight bat."

Ahead of their first international assignment in 14 months, Tamim's 11th-hour generosity is certainly a boost for the Tigresses.