It could have been another successful sibling story in international cricket like the Waugh brothers -- Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh -- to name just one. But the Iqbal brothers could not write the same story, although the older brother Nafees Iqbal had arrived on the scene with a lot of promise.

Even in the era of Tamim's glittering journey in international cricket, many still reminisce about Nafees's maiden Test hundred against Zimbabwe in 2005 when walking memory lane to revisit Bangladesh's early successes in international cricket as the stylish opening batsman showed sound technique during that knock. Many also fondly recall his maiden Test fifty against India, which the batsman himself rates as his best.

Things however was not that easy for Nafees in those days as he had to look after his family, especially younger brother Tamim after the death of their sports fanatic father Iqbal Khan, who was also a good footballer and cricket player.

Nafees struggles and contributions to his younger brother's success was probably best described by his friend during a Facebook Live conversation with Tamim on Monday night.

"I would like to tell you that your brother's contribution has been the most crucial in you reaching where you are today. I have seen your brother, and the amount of sacrifices he made for you and your family is unbelievable. Your mother had to survive with you and your sister after your father's death but what your brother did for you and your family, you may not know, but I know as we were close.

"Your brother used to have one penny burger in the meal and I reminded him that if he didn't eat enough, how would his body remain fit and how could he play cricket? Initially, we used to make fun of that but later realised that he made all those sacrifices for you, so that you can play with a good bat. I still feel that Nafees had all the potential to become a very good batsman in Tests for Bangladesh. He couldn't be that and perhaps you got all the good things from him," said former Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

It was 2007 during a net session in Mirpur when Tamim hit a ball hard and it hit Nafees, who was standing next to the nets, flush on the face and he was rushed to the hospital.

It was probably also the end of Nafees's dream to open the innings for Bangladesh with his younger brother as the serious injury forced him to stay out of cricket for nearly two years.

"Tamim used to stay at the hospital all the time but he hardly came to my cabin to see me. I know he was very disappointed and perhaps felt guilty about the incident. But honestly, it was never his fault as I should have been more careful in the nets that day. He is a very strong boy and never showed me his emotions.

"To be honest, I truly believe that I deserved one more opportunity to play for the national team and I can remember in 2009 one of the selectors had asked me to prepare to make a comeback to the Test side, but that never happened. Who knows, things could have been different if I had gotten another chance. Although I haven't played a lot of international cricket, considering the time in which I played, I think my record is not that bad," said Nafees.

It was the same year, in 2007, when Tamim made his international debut for Bangladesh and since then he has not looked back. The irony was that it was in 2007 that Nafis lost his way from the national setup and was never able to make a return to international cricket.

But rather than look back to what happened to his cricketing career, Nafees now enjoys every bit of his younger brother's success.

"Although he [Tamim] is five years younger to me, we share a very friendly relationship. Right from the very beginning I knew he has some special talent and he used to take on challenges from the very beginning," Nafees said.

"I don't need to say much about what Tamim has achieved so far in his career and he still has a long way to go, I believe. We hardly talk about cricket at home and whenever he plays a good knock, I just give him a thumbs up through a message," he continued.

Photo: Collected

Nafees was also pleased with the way his younger brother came forward to help people during the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"What he is doing now for the people in need is nothing new to me. He has always been like that from childhood and whoever knows him closely can say that as he does not like these things to be made public. But still, I feel really proud of him and whatever he is doing for the people during this coronavirus pandemic is remarkable," he added.

It was the early 1990s when the elder son of Iqbal Khan, Nafees, was sent to Dhaka for his schooling while his younger son Tamim remained with the family in Chattogram. Suddenly, however, Nafis had to return to his home city after his father's physical condition got worse.

It was the year 2000 when Iqbal Khan breathed his last and unfortunately could not see any of his sons playing for the national team. Three years after his death, it was Nafees who made his international debut against England at his home town and showed a lot of promise.

Perhaps it was destined that one brother had to leave for the other to take centre stage.

Over the years Tamim has emerged as one of the most successful batsmen in the history of Bangladesh cricket and is still going strong, while Nafees, who has accepted his fate, is still involved with cricket but in a different capacity.

And thus they uphold the great sporting legacy of their family -- carrying on from where their uncle Akram Khan led Bangladesh to the 1997 ICC Trophy triumph, which ultimately shaped the future of the country's cricket.