Bangladesh middle-order batsman Tawhid Hridoy has backed the national team’s openers to rediscover form despite their struggles in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim is averaging just over 18 in this edition of the BPL, with a highest score of 76, while Saif Hassan, the other opener preferred by the team management, has endured a difficult campaign, averaging less than 15.
Hridoy, meanwhile, registered a magnificent century on Wednesday, after a century of 62 the previous day. His 109 off 63 balls against Noakhali Express helped Rangpur Riders secure the third position in the playoffs.
The hundred propelled Hridoy to the top of the BPL run-getter’s list, with 378 runs at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 139.48. His rise up the scoring charts coincided with a change in the batting position. In his first six matches, batting at three or four, Hridoy averaged just 17.6 with just one fifty. After that poor run, he was promoted to open the innings and responded with an unbeaten 97 against Rajshahi Warriors.
With the national team’s opening matches out of form, Hridoy was asked if he could be considered for a starting role at international level.
“When the team [Rangpur] They gave me this opportunity, I told them I had no problem. I am mentally prepared to try and contribute to the team wherever I am used,” Hridoy said. “Yes, playing in the top order gives an opportunity to build an innings, while in the middle or lower order, you concentrate on impact innings of 25 to 50 runs.”
However, speaking about the national team, Hridoy stressed the importance of supporting the existing openers.
“I can’t say much about the national team. There are many top-class batsmen and they have done well in the last one year. I don’t think I should be in their place now; we have to trust them and want them to represent the country well in the future,” Hridoy said.
Saif, who is also the vice-captain of the T20I team, recorded his only notable innings of the tournament with a 73 against Chattogram on Wednesday, a knock that may offer some relief to the selectors ahead of the World Cup. Hridoy, however, cautioned against directly comparing BPL performance with international cricket.
“Right now you can’t compare BPL with international cricket; they are different. We should pray that everyone does well because that is good for the country,” he added.
Hridoy is expected to be ranked number five in the national team. He revealed that captain Litton Das had emphasized the importance of his role in the middle order.
“He [Litton] He told me, ‘You will be playing in the middle order in the World Cup, so if everything is good, try batting practice there.’ It’s different and it’s not easy,” Hridoy said. “It reminded me that impact innings in the middle order count too.”