Khaled Mahmud, the director of the national team, stated that Afif Hossain would be rewarded for his recent strong performances by moving up to number 4 in the batting order during the upcoming Asia Cup.
Afif has hinted at some of his potential in the global scene. His ability to contribute to the club and develop as a player has been constrained by having to bat lower down the order to make room for the more seasoned players in the middle order.
But Khaled Mahmud intimated on Monday following a function commemorating the national mourning day that Afif might receive a genuine run at number 4, beginning with the Asia Cup.
“We will give him a chance there,” Mahmud said when asked whether Afif will get to bat at number 4 in the Asia Cup.
“We are thinking about giving Afif a specific role. He is dynamite. I think he is a very confident young boy. He batted wonderfully in the last two series, and played well in the ODIs too. We will give Afif the opportunity because he is our future,” he added.
Mahmud continued, “The most essential thing is that he is combative. He has the aggressive mindset needed to excel in T20s. We specifically want to see that on the team. He is becoming into a crucial cricket player for Bangladesh. Without a doubt, we’ll give him the chance. That falls inside our purview.
In the just concluded Zimbabwe tour, where the Tigers lost the T20I and ODI series by the same score of 1-2, Afif was Bangladesh’s most reliable batter.
In Bangladesh’s lone victory in the three-match T20I series, Afif made an undefeated 30. In Bangladesh’s lone victory in the 50-over series, he also struck an unbeaten 85.
ODI skipper Tamim iqbal also heaped praises on Afif after the third ODI, “I’ve noticed some very special qualities in Afif that very few cricketers possess. If you notice, when Afif came to bat in the second match, we were under pressure. He, very quickly, relieved the pressure. On some days, he would get out attempting to do the same thing. Then you and everyone else will ask, why did he do that? But he has a unique quality, which I don’t want him to lose. I want him to continue playing the same way.”
