Afif, Mehedi prevail with nerves of steel

"We don't ever think about whether a player is young or a senior. Whenever we play, we try to contribute as members of the team," Afif Hossain said in yesterday's post-match press conference when asked whether he or Mehedi Hasan Miraz felt they had a point to prove as they staged an astonishing turnaround yesterday from an impossible situation and took Bangladesh to a four-wicket win in the first ODI against Afghanistan.

The scenario and the remark afterwards was uncanny because of the confidence from both batters out there yesterday. It was curious from a cricket culture point of view as well.

After Afghanistan succumbed late in their innings, losing their last five wickets for just 21 runs to post 215 all-out, Bangladesh would have been patting themselves on the back.

What followed as Bangladesh started their chase was nothing short of a disaster. Experienced heads struggled to counter the early swing from Fazaalhaq Farooqi as Liton Das, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and debutant Yasir Ali departed to the seamer.

Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah being at the crease meant the Tigers could hold on to some hope but that did not last long as Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan respectively accounted for their wickets, leaving Bangladesh at 45 for six in the 12th over. From that point, it appeared an insurmountable task as number eight batter Mehedi joined Afif, who came in at number seven.

Bangladesh's depth in the lower middle-order is often celebrated but has not created much in reality during key moments in the past. But with 170 runs required from just over 39 overs, even the most ardent Bangladesh fan could not have foreseen what was to follow.

Guts, fitness, class and finesse were on show during Miraz's 120-ball 81 and Afif's 115-ball 93. The pair stitched together an unbroken 174-run seventh-wicket stand. Before this, Afif had just one fifty in international cricket.

However, the mental reservoir of patience and self-belief shown, especially by two youngsters not considered established stars, to take responsibility and see the side out of trouble was an assertion of nerves of steel from the new generation.

The likes of Shakib, Tamim, Riyad, Mushfiqur and others had that air of belief when they came onto the international cricket scene. That asset has been missing in the recent past from youngsters looking to make the same journey. By the time Shakib or Tamim had become seniors, a certain culture of subjugation towards senior figures was often apparent. It perhaps happens because seniors perform better but having a culture where a younger player always feels they can pass on responsibilities can also affect motivation and professionalism.

A nervy Bangladesh was however watching on as Miraz and Afif countered some of the best spinners in the world, playing them on merit. There were hardly any rash shots, none from Afif at least. Miraz's sweep against Nabi in the 35th over caught the edge but luckily missed the stumps and the wicketkeeper.

Afif did not bother with any loose deliveries either, flicking a Yamin Ahmadzai delivery for six when the opportunity arrived. When he found it difficult, Miraz took over and found boundaries.

"The innings is special because it came against world class bowlers," Afif reiterated at press conference, their ploy being to see out the Afghan spin trio. In the end, at least from Bangladesh cricket's point of view, it was more than that. It was about taking responsibility. Not seniors or juniors but a changing of the dynamics.