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Tamim thanks Mushfiqur, Hathurusingha for turnaround

Following his 109 against Zimbabwe in Chittagong, Tamim Iqbal thanked Mushfiqur Rahim and Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha for their support during the lean patch he suffered for most of the year

After a run of poor scores, Tamim Iqbal scored his second century in as many games  •  AFP

After a run of poor scores, Tamim Iqbal scored his second century in as many games  •  AFP

Following his 109 on the first day of the third Test against Zimbabwe in Chittagong, Tamim Iqbal thanked Mushfiqur Rahim and Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha for their support during his lean patch, and admitted he had to go through numerous processes and break his debilitating form with hard work and constant encouragement.
There were several calls for Tamim to be dropped following his poor form this year. He had two half-centuries in West Indies but the critics put him under pressure after the Mirpur Test against Zimbabwe in which he made 5 and 0. Once he made 109 in Khulna, his first Test century in more than four years, the pressure gave way and helped him bat with more freedom.
"I possibly didn't make too many technical adjustments," Tamim said. "When a batsman doesn't score runs, he must have developed a bad habit. I am sure I was making small mistakes too. After Hathu arrived, we were watching old videos from which he identified small mistakes. We worked on it. I think that's why my shots are flowing better from my bat.
"When nothing was working for me, I tried to attack from the first ball but I failed. I decided to go back to the basics and start from scratch. I think that has paid off for me. If you score centuries regularly, it can take you to the next level. There are many innings which had rush of blood and I got out. This time I told myself that if they get me out, I get out. But I will not make mistakes on my own.
"I want to thank Mushfiqur from the bottom of my heart. He backed me in my tough period. I have told him in the dressing-room. I would also tell the coach the same thing. When he started working here, I wasn't batting well. But he backed me, told me some very good things. Sometimes words are more effective than action when you are going through a lean patch."
In Khulna, Tamim batted the entire day for the first time in his career. He was surprised at scoring 74 after batting for 90 overs but understood that patience was the key to working his way back to form, specially on a pitch that was difficult to score quickly on.
"We can always try in cricket; it pays off some days and then it doesn't," he said. "You have to be patient, which is something that I learned during this period.
"Khulna was a lot of hard work. The wicket looked flat there but it wasn't easy to bat. Both are different. I got a lot more boundary here than in Khulna. I never thought I would score only 75 runs batting the entire day. I should have made at least a hundred. It was a very tough innings but both are special to me."
More than anything else, he was also happy to finally score a century in his hometown. He has two 80-plus scores in a Test and ODI in Chittagong and his previous highest at the ground was 95 in a one-dayer against Zimbabwe.
"I have been repeatedly telling the coaches about scoring a hundred in this ground, which is a dream for every player," he said. "I have come close a few times in ODIs and Tests. To be able to do it finally, is a great feeling.
"If I get another chance, I will definitely try to score another century. I celebrated more because it was in my home ground. I don't think anyone from my family came to the ground, but I am sure they prayed for me."

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84