Former Bangladesh captain suffers heart attack on the pitch

The cricket world is in shock following news that former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal is in hospital following reports that he suffered a cardiac arrest during a domestic game in Dhaka.

The 36-year-old opener, who represented Bangladesh 391 times between 2007 and 2023, was playing for Mohammedan Sporting Club on Monday in a T20 clash when the incident took place.

According to the BBC, Tamim, Bangladesh's record run-scorer in one-day internationals, complained of chest pains after taking to the field in their Dhaka Premier League fixture against Shinepukur.

Local authorities planned to transport him in a helicopter to hospital but they abandoned the plan after his condition deteriorated and he was instead taken for immediate treatment at a closer facility, the KPJ Specialized Hospital, the report added.

"Tamim Iqbal Khan suffered a cardiac arrest this morning at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP)," read a statement by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

Tamim received "immediate emergency medical treatment" and underwent a "successful angiogram procedure to address a blockage in one of the arteries of his heart.

"He is currently under close observation at the hospital's coronary care unit," the statement added.

Tamim became only the second Bangladeshi to play county cricket in England with Nottinghamshire in 2011 and also had a spell with Essex in 2017.

He has played 70 Test Matches and 243 One Day International ODIs for Bangladesh, scoring 5,134 runs and 8,357 runs respectively.

Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar told Mid Day that Tamim could slowly speak to the doctors which was very encouraging.

"We were about to lose him in the morning. Fortunately, he is safe now, thanks to the doctors who treated him with utmost care," he stated.