Former Bangladesh national cricket team captain Tamim Iqbal's health condition has improved, but it will take at least three months for him to return to regular sporting activities, according to the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Abu Jafar.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday after visiting Tamim at KPJ Hospital in Savar, Professor Abu Jafar provided updates on the cricketer’s recovery process, reported UNB.
"Tamim Iqbal needs at least three months to return to normal activities, meaning sports. However, he will be able to carry out normal household tasks and walk within a week. He must remain under rest. Although all tests have come back normal so far, not all conditions are always detected immediately,” he said.
Professor Abu Jafar went on to say, “His initial ECG did not show any changes and an echocardiogram (ECHO) performed this morning was also normal. However, unforeseen complications can arise at any moment. We have discussed these matters extensively with his family, and now the decision is theirs."
A Close Call for the Cricket Star
Providing details on Tamim's emergency hospitalisation, the DGHS Director General said, "Our national asset, Tamim Iqbal, felt unwell around 10:30 am yesterday. When he arrived here, doctors suspected a cardiac problem and administered initial treatment and tests. It was advised that he should not be moved immediately. However, given his stature as a national celebrity, he made the decision to be transferred to Dhaka as soon as possible, with arrangements for a helicopter already in place."
"During this time, he suffered a heart attack, and his pulse was undetectable. The doctors promptly administered CPR and took measures to restart his heart," he added.
Professor Abu Jafar expressed gratitude for the timely medical intervention. "Thanks to everyone's prayers and the dedicated efforts of his medical team, Tamim Iqbal is now stable. His condition is promising, but there is always some risk associated with a primary PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention). The inserted stent is a foreign object, and there is a slight possibility of complications such as blockages or reactions. Although statistically rare, these risks exist."
He further noted, "We have informed his family about these concerns. Thanks to the hard work of Dr Maruf and his team, along with divine blessings, we have been able to give Tamim a new lease on life. People naturally want the best possible medical care, but we have discussed with his family the safety of his immediate transfer. There is still a degree of risk involved."
Cardiac Specialist's Opinion
In response to queries, Professor Abdul Wadud, Director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), said, "The risk factor is minimal—around one per cent. However, if complications arise, the risk becomes 100 per cent. It is advisable for Tamim to stay here for at least 48 to 72 hours before considering a transfer elsewhere."
He elaborated, "What Tamim experienced is common in cases of acute heart attacks. Studies show that 10 to 20 per cent of patients suffering from acute heart attacks do not make it to the hospital. Cardiac arrest can occur at any time, as it did in Tamim’s case. Fortunately, medical professionals were with him, and they immediately initiated cardiac massage when his heart stopped pumping on its own. He was then swiftly taken to the hospital for further treatment."
