2024-03-06 16:24:04
Why is Afif Hossain not in the ODI and T20 team against Sri Lanka? The question was raised by Khaled Mahmud Sujan. Khaled Mahmood is surprised not to see the promising cricketer in the squad. After not getting a place in the national team, Afif is now busy preparing for the Dhaka Premier League. This time also he will play Dhaka League for Abahani Limited. Khaled Mahmud will serve as the coach of the team.
Afif’s chances are fifty-fifty with T20. But Khaled Mahmud claims that there is no way to be excluded from the ODI team. Mahmud expressed his anger in the media, ‘I can say one thing as Afif’s coach, since I have been watching him for a long time in Abahani, I am a little surprised that he is not in the ODI team. He also had a run of 39 (38) in the last ODI. Why is he not there, this question is real but ….’
‘The boy works hard, is a dedicated cricketer. Knows how to fight, very good fielder. A bit surprising, but whoever has been taken (in his place), there must have been thought of by the selectors. I have nothing to say.’ – added Mahmud.
He played an innings of 38 runs off 28 balls in the first match of the ODI series in the tour of New Zealand in December last year. He did not get a chance in the next two matches. Now out of the team. His performance in the BPL before the series against Sri Lanka was not that bright but not too bad. He scored 278 runs at a strike rate of 120.86 in 12 matches for Khulna Tigers.
Performance in BPL can be taken into account as coming to the national team. However, Mahmud advised to keep him in the team in the future, ‘If I have to say, Afif is the match-winning cricketer of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has won many matches. We should not neglect a boy like him. That’s the biggest thing. Because these boys will win Bangladesh, I believe.’
“Such a young star… and now Afif is experienced, it’s not like he’s a kid or a kid. There will be good and bad days. In my opinion, keeping him with the team and not keeping him away is good for him and also good for the Bangladesh team.
He also advised him to bat upwards, ‘Afif can bat upwards, everyone always knows that. I also try to get him to bat four or five times in Abahani, whenever I can. Not always a chance. Last year he batted at number four. Played great. By winning some of our matches.’