Mehidy Hasan Shines as Opening Batsman in Bangladesh's Asia Cup Clash with Afghanistan
Bangladesh faced a challenge in their do-or-die Asia Cup game against Afghanistan when their regular opening batsmen, Tamim Iqbal and Litton Das, were unavailable. Prior to the match, Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha expressed concern about the lack of experience at the top. Tamim was sidelined due to back issues, while Litton was replaced by Anamul Haque after failing to recover from fever.
In their first game against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh opened with Mohammad Naim and Tanzid Tamim, but the new pair failed to perform well. Naim scored 16 runs, while Tanzid failed to score any runs. This prompted the team management to consider a change at the top for the match against Afghanistan. Anamul was a strong candidate due to his regular opening role and experience. However, Mehidy Hasan was chosen instead of Tanzid as the team felt that the young left-handed opener might struggle against Afghanistan's spin attack. Moreover, Mehidy had a good track record against them, which proved beneficial in the crucial encounter.
Skipper Shakib al Hasan praised Mehidy's previous performances when given opportunities higher up the order. The team believed in his batting abilities, especially against Afghanistan. Mehidy had previously opened in a couple of T20Is, but hadn't been tried at the top since the 2018 Asia Cup final, where he scored 32 runs alongside Litton Das. However, this time against Afghanistan, Mehidy took charge and scored an impressive 112 runs, dominating the game.
Mehidy expressed his happiness at achieving his second ODI hundred and credited the team management and captain for giving him the opportunity to open. He mentioned his confidence, citing his previous experience opening in the 2018 Asia Cup final. Mehidy has a reputation for delivering during crises, as seen in his maiden ODI hundred against India. He has been able to improve his batting by using his big innings as a reference point.
Against Afghanistan, Mehidy displayed a mix of defensive and attacking shots. He played the ball straight but also took on the short balls with square shots. His cover drive against Mujeeb was particularly eye-catching, and he continued to build on that momentum. He hit Mohammad Nabi for a six and showcased his growth as a batter with an inside-out six off Mujeeb.
Unfortunately, Mehidy had to retire hurt due to a hand cramp, but not before adding a valuable 194-run partnership for the third wicket with Nazmul Hossain Shanto. Overall, Mehidy's performance as an opener brought a breath of fresh air to the national dressing room and demonstrated his ability to rescue the team from difficult situations.
