Comilla Victorians wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik showcased his impressive finishing abilities again during yesterday’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match. His performance included crucial, game-changing plays highlighting his skill and composure under pressure. This standout display has significantly strengthened his candidacy for a place on the Bangladesh Twenty20 squad, as he continues to make a compelling case for national selection with each game.
In their final group-stage match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday, Comilla suffered a six-wicket defeat against Fortune Barishal. The game was challenging for Comilla, and the loss margin could have been even more significant. Jaker Ali Anik’s crucial contributions played an important role in preventing a more considerable defeat. His performance helped stabilize the innings and push Comilla’s total to a competitive level, showcasing his ability to impact the game even under challenging situations.
At 26 years old, Jaker Ali Anik demonstrated impressive maturity as he came in at number seven with Comilla at 86 for 5 in 14.5 overs. Facing the challenging Mirpur pitch, he took on the Barishal bowlers. He scored an unbeaten 38 off 16 balls, including four sixes and two fours, helping to elevate their total to 140 for 8. This performance marked Jaker’s ninth appearance in this year’s tournament, where he accumulated 179 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 151.69.
Although Jaker Ali Anik has yet to achieve a half-century, his highest score to date is an unbeaten 40 off 31 balls against Khulna Tigers. Despite this, he has been instrumental in Comilla’s strong performance throughout the season, helping them secure a second-place finish in the points table. Jaker’s ability to consistently deliver impactful innings, especially in high-pressure situations, has been critical to Comilla’s success. His performances have demonstrated his reliability and skill, contributing significantly to his team’s overall achievements.
Jaker Ali Anik’s remarkable consistency is underscored by the fact that he has been dismissed only twice across nine innings in the tournament. This exceptional level of reliability not only reflects his ability to maintain form but also his capacity to anchor innings effectively. His performance is further highlighted by his impressive average of 89.5, the highest in the tournament. This statistic underscores his ability to consistently contribute valuable runs and his pivotal role in his team’s success throughout the season.
Despite his reliable performances lower down the order and the Bangladesh team’s search for a finisher in Twenty20s, Jaker was overlooked by the outgoing selection panel led by Minhajul Abedin Nannu for the Tigers’ upcoming three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka next month.
The selectors included four specialist openers in the T20I squad: Anamul Haque, Liton Das, Mohammad Naim, and Soumya Sarkar. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also occasionally opened the innings.
Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah Riyad were the only specialist middle-order batters selected for the squad. Mahmudullah was anticipated to take the finisher role in the series against Sri Lanka.
Comilla coach Mohammad Salahuddin criticized the selection process following Jaker’s exclusion from the squad.
“You are looking for players to bat at number six and seven, and this guy [Jaker] has been doing well for the last two years. He scores runs at crucial moments for us and is sensible. I feel that this boy should be given opportunity,” the Comilla coach remarked during a press conference on February 14.
Although Jaker has appeared in three T20 matches for Bangladesh, they were during last year’s Asian Games, where the board fielded a second-string team. The Sri Lanka series presented an ideal opportunity for the Bangladesh management to give Jaker valuable international experience. By overlooking him, they missed a chance to evaluate his potential as a finisher and gauge his readiness for this year’s ICC Twenty20 World Cup.
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