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In his relatively short international career, Afif Hossain Dhrubo has been at the center of quite a few epic comebacks which will surely cement his place in the history books of Bangladesh cricket.
The latest epic of rising from the ashes like a phoenix came yesterday, when he partnered with Mehidy Hasan Miraz to guide Bangladesh to a stunning victory from 45 for 6.
The 224-run 5th wicket stand between Shakib-Mahmudullah is remembered by the fans as the greatest comeback story in Bangladesh cricket history.
The partnership helped the tigers reach the Champions Trophy semis and knocked New Zealand out of the tournament in the process.
This time around, two youngsters reciprocated the same at Mirpur indicating the future has arrived and they are ready to take up the baton.
The Afghans were helpless as Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz put together a record stand of 174 runs leading Bangladesh to a miraculous victory.
They shattered all records as this is the first time that a chasing team has bounced back from losing their first six wickets for under 50 runs.
Even under tremendous pressure, Afif looked calm and composed right from the word go. He never looked unsettled and always kept the scoreboard ticking with brilliant running between the wicket and occasional boundaries.
The youngstars’ 115 ball 93 runs innings was laced with 11 boundaries and a solitary six.
He scored boundaries all-around the wicket with cover drives, flicks and took singles at regular intervals with casual clips .
Miraz was not too far behind. His cut-shorts were a treat for the eyes and he hit two boundaries using two pull shots.
His unbeaten 81 was the highest individual score at number eight or lower for Bangladesh in ODIs.
Afif, making a habit of comeback
In 2019, a 19 year old Afif smashed a magnificent 26-ball 52 to help the tigers register a three-wicket victory against Zimbabwe in a T-20 at Mirpur, after Bangladesh were on the brink of defeat losing six for 60 while chasing 145.
Coming to bat at No. 8 in what was just his second international outing, the southpaw struck eight boundaries and a solitary six before he fell to a Madziva delivery in the final over of the game.
Last year, he partnered with Nurul Hasan Sohan as their unbeaten partnership of 56 runs pulled the Tigers out of a precarious situation and ensured the Tigers register a convincing five-wicket victory over Australia .
Bangladesh were struggling 67 for five after 11 overs in chase of a modest 121 when Afif took up the responsibility of guiding the tigers to a historic series win over the Aussies, laying exquisite cover drives, pick-up shots and pull-shots during his unbeaten 31-ball 37.
Afif has scripted one epic comeback after another and its high time the team management understood his true caliber and promoted him further up the order.
One thing all these innings proved is that Afif is at his aesthetic best when he gets time to settle down, which is often not the case as he bats at no 7 in ODI .
This promising young talent does not tick the box of a power hitter and playing him at the lower middle order in shorter formats only will do injustice to his batting ability and rob the national team of an exquisite top or middle order batsman.
In ODI, the team management is currently looking for a solid no 5 batsman and Afif Hossain Dhrubo is right in front of them; all they need to do is open their eyes.