Desk Report:
Zaker Ali Anik has hit 38 sixes in T20Is for Bangladesh. The number of fours is 34. So what is the reason for the question about his ability to hit sixes? Because, he has hit most of these sixes in bilateral series. But Zaker, who has been given the title of ‘finisher’ during major tournaments, cannot hit sixes.
Zaker started his journey in international cricket with the Asian Games held in Hangzhou in the T20 version in 2023. After making his debut in the short version of cricket, he had a memorable series in the 2024 West Indies tour. In the three-match T20I series against the Caribbean, he scored 120 runs at an average of 60 and an average of 136.66. He hit 9 sixes and 4 fours. Zaker, who has been in the Bangladesh jersey for 2 years, cannot be called new. After the Asian Games Cricket, the 2024 T20 World Cup, this year’s Champions Trophy, the T20 Asia Cup – he has played four major tournaments. Whenever he went to hit a six in these tournaments, he had to return to the dressing room.
Of the four major tournaments that Zaker has played so far, let’s put the Champions Trophy aside. Because, the Champions Trophy held in February-March this year was in the ODI version. In the remaining three T20 edition tournaments, only one six came from his bat. That six came in the 2023 Asian Games Cricket. Zaker is being criticized for his poor performance in this year’s Asia Cup. Zaker even worked as the acting captain against India and Pakistan in the absence of Liton Das, Bangladesh lost both those matches. He batted at number 6 in five of the six matches. He played at number 7 in one. He was unbeaten in three matches in the tournament. But his batting style has been questioned. Despite coming in as a finisher, his strike rate in this tournament is 107.57.
Zaker’s strike rate proves how badly he played in this Asia Cup. He scored 71 runs in the tournament. Of which, the highest 41 runs came in the group stage match against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi. Despite being unbeaten until the end of the innings, he played 34 balls. He hit only 2 fours. His strike rate in this match still exceeded 100. In the life-or-death match against Afghanistan in the group stage, he batted at a strike rate of less than 100. Especially, what he did in the last three balls of the 19th over is painful for the eyes. He could not connect with the ball with the bat while spinning on the leg side with those three balls from Azmatullah Omarzai. Zaker reduced the wheel of runs by playing three dots at crucial times.
Despite batting at a strike rate of 225 in Dubai against Sri Lanka in the Super Four, Zaker was bowled while hitting a six. He was run out in the match against India. What did Zaker do in the unwritten semi-final against Pakistan yesterday? Zaker rarely makes such mistakes in local cricket as he made Mohammad Nawaz practice catching while hitting part-time spinner Sayem Ayub for a six. Moreover, Zaker should have played with a little responsibility when he was the captain. If Zaker had formed a partnership with Shamim Hossain Patwary with patience, Bangladesh might have been able to chase the target of 136 runs against Pakistan. Then Bangladesh and India would have faced each other in the final. But since Bangladesh lost by 11 runs, this is the first time that India and Pakistan are going to meet in the Asia Cup final.
Zaker is playing comparatively well in the ODI version of the Champions Trophy in which he has played. He has scored 113 runs at an average of 56.50 in 2 matches. Although there is a chance to question the strike rate of 66.86, he had to take some time to play due to the failure of his teammates. But this time, criticism is also being directed at the press conference over his performance in the Asia Cup in the T20 version. After the loss against India the day before yesterday, Zaker said, ‘You don’t have to hit empty sixes. You have to score runs too.’ He even expressed his hope of becoming the champion in the middle of the tournament. That Bangladesh had to leave the Super Four.
Even though the Asia Cup mission is over, Bangladesh has no chance to sit back. Bangladesh and Afghanistan will play three ODIs and three T20s each in the first week of October in the United Arab Emirates. After that, Bangladesh will host the West Indies at home. Bangladesh, which has been busy, will play the T20 World Cup in February-March next year. Time will tell whether Zaker can write a new story in this ICC event to be held in India and Sri Lanka.
