Tamim Iqbal Heart Attack: Bangladesh Cricket Star’s Quick Rescue and Uncertain Future

Tamim Iqbal’s Medical Emergency Shocks Bangladesh Cricket

Few moments in sports are as jarring as watching a star athlete face a life-threatening medical crisis in real time. On March 24, 2025, Tamim Iqbal—Bangladesh’s former cricket captain—became the center of national concern after suffering a heart attack during a Dhaka Premier League (DPL) match. Tamim, 36, was captaining Mohammedan Sporting Club against Shinepukur Cricket Club at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan ground in Savar when he suddenly reported severe chest pain as Shinepukur’s innings began.

Immediately, his teammates and physiotherapy staff sprang into action. Seeing that his discomfort was more than routine fatigue, they alerted medical support. On the pitch, Tamim received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a defibrillator shock (DC shock) without delay. ''Time was everything,'' recalled Mohammedan’s physio Enamul Haque. The sense of urgency was so acute that a helicopter was even arranged, though it couldn’t be used due to logistical hurdles. Instead, an ambulance rushed Tamim to KPJ Hospital, a lifeline that proved critical.

Once at the hospital, a team of cardiologists performed an emergency angioplasty. They inserted a heart stent to restore normal blood flow, and Tamim was shifted into intensive care. His case was so serious that after initial stabilization, doctors transferred him to KPJ Evercare Hospital in Dhaka for further monitoring.

Life-Saving Response, Lingering Questions About the Cricket Comeback

Within four days—by March 28—Tamim was declared well enough to leave the hospital. Medical staff described his heart function as stable, but raised flags about the future. Abdul Wadud Chowdhury, who heads the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, explained that Tamim will need to overhaul his lifestyle and face careful health monitoring. ''An abnormal beat could be there again,'' Dr. Chowdhury said, hinting at underlying risks that could still jeopardize Tamim’s long-term well-being.

The emergency has changed the conversation around athlete health in Bangladesh. While sudden cardiac events aren’t unknown in sports, witnessing someone as prominent as Tamim undergoing CPR in the middle of a match puts the focus on preparedness. Tamim himself admitted he ''wouldn’t have been saved if not given CPR properly,'' and his words have sparked renewed interest in medical training for on-field staff and players alike.

His family, teammates, and thousands of fans are now questioning whether the left-handed maestro will set foot on the field again. A specialized medical board formed to assess his progress plans to review Tamim’s fitness for cricket in three to four months. Much will depend on how his heart recovers and how he adapts to new lifestyle demands. Risk management and rehabilitation protocols in Bangladeshi cricket are also under the microscope, encouraging clubs and leagues to evaluate their own safety nets.

• Tamim Iqbal suffered a heart attack during a DPL match in March 2025.
• On-site CPR and rapid hospital care were crucial to his survival.
• Doctors recommend lifestyle changes and ongoing monitoring.
• His cricketing future remains uncertain, with a reassessment scheduled in a few months.

For now, Tamim’s journey is about more than cricket. It’s about gratitude for a second chance and the tense wait for answers only time will bring.