In the upcoming series, these two batters may have to take charge of the middle order. That’s why both coaches are being extra cautious with them. In Phil Simmons’ class, Hridoy is under focus, while Mohammad Salahuddin has chosen Zakir Ali. An invisible void has emerged in Bangladesh’s middle order—and Hridoy and Zakir could be the beacon of hope to fill it.
Just two days ago, the Bangladesh squad was announced for the upcoming T20 series against the UAE and Pakistan. Preparations are now in full swing for that series. As part of that, Hridoy and Zakir were seen receiving special training from Phil Simmons and Mohammad Salahuddin.
With the responsibility of the middle order possibly falling on their shoulders in the upcoming matches, the coaches are treating them with extra care. Phil Simmons is focusing on Hridoy, while Salahuddin has taken Zakir Ali under his wing. Hridoy’s weakness on the offside is well known, so Simmons is paying special attention to improving his offside shots—especially spending considerable time on the square cut.
On the other hand, Mohammad Salahuddin closely observed Zakir Ali’s batting class. Zakir has long been one of his protégés since his time with the Comilla Victorians. Salahuddin has helped shape Zakir in his own way. So when Zakir made mistakes, Salahuddin corrected him closely, and Zakir responded with a strong effort to improve.
Towhid Hridoy entered Bangladesh’s cricket scene through the BPL (Bangladesh Premier League). His consistent performances and power-hitting ability brought him into the spotlight and eventually earned him a spot on the national team. He has already played 32 T20 matches for the national team, scoring 684 runs with a strike rate close to 130.
Zakir Ali Anik has a similar story. His impressive performances as a finisher in the BPL opened the doors to the national team. So far, he has played 22 matches, scoring 374 runs with a strike rate of 122.22—which, in the context of Bangladesh, is not too bad. Their recent form in T20s is creating optimism around both of them. Hridoy last played a T20 against India, where he scored an unbeaten 63.
Meanwhile, Zakir is also in excellent form. He last played against the West Indies, where he scored an unbeaten 72.
The Bangladesh team is currently going through a transition period. With Mushfiqur and Riyad gone, the middle order has become somewhat unstable. However, Hridoy and Zakir Ali are offering hope in that position. The question now is—can they navigate this shaky ship to the shore, or will they sink into the deep sea?
