Jaker Ali’s 48-ball 55 proved to be a match-winning knock for Bangladesh in their eight-run victory over Pakistan in the second T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday, and the right-handed batter later revealed that he had gone out to bat with a specific message from skipper Litton Das.
After getting dismissed as the last Bangladesh batter in their ICC Champions Trophy opener against India in Dubai yesterday, centurion Towhid Hridoy limped back to the dressing room, with shoulders slumped and a pained expression etched across his face -- a wounded soldier who knew his resilience and determination were not enough to lift Bangladesh out of trouble.
Consistent performances from their overseas players have been key to Chittagong’s strong campaign, with three wins from four games ahead of their home phase.
Jaker was still jet-lagged, after returning to country from the West Indies, while he spoke to The Daily Star's Abdullah Al Mehdi during an exclusive interview.
Despite a lacklustre T20 World Cup performance, the 26-year-old shone in the Caribbean, scoring consistently across formats.
Jaker has already scored fifties in each of the three Tests he has played, becoming only the second Bangladeshi after Mominul Haque to achieve such a feat.
Jaker Ali Anik shared a heartfelt message on his official Facebook page, dedicating Bangladesh's 101-run victory in the second Test against West Indies in Jamaica to his late father, after having made tremendous contribution with the bat to the team’s cause.
Bangladesh’s newly appointed senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin urged the media to give new players time before making the final judgement about their abilities.
Bangladesh have brought in wicket-keeper batter Mahidul Islam Ankon to the squad for the second Test against South Africa, starting tomorrow at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, after Jaker Ali Anik suffered a concussion, a Bangladesh Cricket Board press release confirmed today.
For Jaker, this year was a special Eid. The hardworking middle-order batter talked about his time away from cricket during past Eids and his inspirations in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star’s Abdullah Al Mehdi.
Abahani extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches as they beat archrivals Mohammedan comprehensively by eight wickets at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.
“With the series now hanging in the balance, we believe Jaker Ali’s addition will provide the team with more options and flexibility in the middle order.”
Prime Bank Cricket Club (PBCC) batter Tamim Iqbal managed a 15-ball 16 after coming to bat at three for his side in a Dhaka Premier League encounter against Brothers Union in BKSP yesterday.
In a career spanning 25 years, renowned coach Mohammad Salahuddin has worked with three generations of cricketers and has elevated himself to spectacular heights in the country's cricket. In a detailed conversation with The Daily Star on their multimedia program, ‘Star Special’, coach Mohammad Salahuddin delves into various facets of Bangladesh cricket, shedding light on the looming challenges facing the Tigers and the factors impeding their fulfilment of expectations.
Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain went past Jaker Ali’s six-hitting record as he smashed seven sixes, the most by a Bangladesh batter in a T20I, in the third of the three-match series against Sri Lanka in Sylhet on Saturday.
The tale of cricketers who had functioned as finishers in Bangladesh T20 cricket history is a short and painful one. To perceive the difficulty of Jaker Ali Anik’s task, one would have to look no further than Mahmudullah Riyad.
Jaker comes from a sporting family and interestingly, his sister Shakila Boby, who was Habiganj district women's team's captain, had attended the game and was at the press conference as a local journalist. His sister asked a question about the home crowd cheering him on.
Interestingly, Jaker was not part of the initial T20I squad.
Jaker Ali Anik produced one of the finest knocks for Bangladesh in T20Is, but in the end there was a hint of regret as the Tigers fell short by three runs in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Sylhet yesterday.
