Was it truly unexpected that Mehidy Hasan came out to bat first against Afghanistan in their Asia Cup game?
The absence of their regular openers, Tamim Iqbal and Litton Das for various reasons caused Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha to lament the lack of experience at the top. Due to back issues, Tamim was unable to compete, and Litton’s slow fever recovery caused Anamul Haque to take his place.
In their inaugural match against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh decided to start with the inexperienced Tanzid Tamim and young Mohammad Naim, but the new opening tandem utterly failed. Tanzim didn’t open his account, while Naim made 16 and did.
After that match, it appeared all but obvious that a leadership change for the upcoming match against Afghanistan was on the cards. Given that he often opens games and has prior expertise, Anamul was the favorite for the position. youthful Tanzid, a youthful left-handed opener, would likely find the Afghan spin attack to be too hot to handle; therefore, the team management made the decision to elevate Mehidy in lieu of him. Furthermore, Mehidy previously had a successful record against them, which again came in handy in a vital clash.
Occasionally, when Mehidy Hasan had opportunities to show his skills, he did so. He has the skill (with the bat), and we always knew that. Shakib al-Hasan, the captain, remarked in the post-match presentation following their resounding victory over Afghanistan, “He got a strong record, especially against Afghanistan, so we thought why not try him on a nice pitch and happily it paid off.
Mehidy Hasan had previously started a few T20I matches, but he hadn’t tried the position since the Asia Cup final of 2018, when he scored 32 runs but also contributed a significant 120 runs with Litton Das. While he had been the supporting actor back then, this time around against Afghanistan, he took control in the middle while scoring 112 runs, seizing the moment with both hands.
“I’m glad I scored a second hundred in ODIs. Because the team management had just told me that I could play conventional cricket, I felt secure when I batted in the middle, Mehedy remarked.
“The credit goes to team management and captain,” he said, “because they said last night they wanted me to open and I just agreed with them because in the last Asia Cup I also opened in the final match, so I was confident.”
Mehidy has always been the crisis manager and delivered when things got tough. Just as he did against India when he scored his first ODI hundred coming down the order, demonstrating that he has the fortitude to contend with one of the best bowling assaults in the world,.
Therefore, going back to the original point, it was not unexpected to see Mehidy start the innings. He already has credibility as a hitter in the top order, and the all-rounder recently told Cricbuzz in an exclusive interview that using his huge hits as a point of reference helped him get better at hitting.
Mehidy batted with a straight face against Afghanistan, but he also did not hold back from playing smashes square to the wickets when the Afghanistan pacers attempted to challenge him with short deliveries. However, his cover drive against Mujeeb was the most impressive play, and from that point on, he only got better. Later, Mehidy came down the pitch to smash Mohammad Nabi for a six, but the manner in which he played Mujeeb for the inside-out six showed just how far he has come as a batsman.
He played for almost three hours before being forced to finish it prematurely due to a hand cramp. By the time he did, he and Nazmul Hossain Shanto had contributed a significant 194 runs for the third wicket.
“The boys played really well, and I thought the wicket was great. I simply attempted to control the situation because there was occasionally a little bit of movement in the first few overs. Mehidy Hasan stated, “I believe the temperature was too hot today, and I believe the middle had ideal circumstances because of the wicket.
We played for the first time in Lahore, and yesterday’s practice was amazing, which is why I felt a little more confident. “We played for the first time in Lahore, and I was a little bit perplexed on the first day of practice. Because you are a little bit wary when you first play in the middle. When I played the first few balls, I started to feel confident,” he remarked, adding that he was eager to take advantage of his chance against the quick Pakistani pace attack.
In reality, I’m always prepared for any bowler. Being present at the beginning makes it a fresh trip for me, which bodes well. He stated that I will be able to perform in the middle of the upcoming games if the club management gives me the chance.
“No bowler (even Shaheen Shah Afridi or anyone else) is causing me any concern. All I want to do is play in the middle. The next game will be a wonderful opportunity for me (assuming I start), and if I perform well, I might as well play further up the order. In the event that I am unable to play in the opening position, the club management may allow me to bat higher in the order.
Mehidy Hasan, who also took a wicket in the match, opened the game with a bang and once again demonstrated that he is the one who can get the team out of trouble. He undoubtedly breathed new life into the national team’s dressing room.
India
