Rangpur:Rangpur Division captain Akbar Ali demonstrated his ability to thrive under pressure by playing a crucial role in helping his team secure a draw against Dhaka in the first round of the 28th National Cricket League (NCL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Akbar's fighting innings of 64 runs came at a time when Rangpur was facing a major batting collapse. His performance allowed the team to avoid defeat and achieve a draw. Akbar is known for his knack for rising to the occasion, a skill he first displayed during the 2020 Under-19 World Cup final when his 43-run innings helped Bangladesh defeat India.
Despite his significant achievements, Akbar's career hasn't flourished as expected compared to some of his World Cup-winning teammates. Still, he remains a reliable player in crisis situations. He expressed that he enjoys the challenges these moments present.
Akbar stated that his primary goal against Dhaka was to ensure Rangpur did not lose, focusing on spending enough time at the crease rather than chasing an improbable victory. "When I came out to bat, we actually had no chance of winning the match. So we had to bat for two hours; otherwise, there was a chance of a negative result," he explained.
His innings also served to counter questions about his recent form, particularly following a less-than-ideal Dhaka Premier League (DPL) season. Akbar acknowledged the DPL didn't go as planned but insisted he hadn't been consistently out of form. "If you look at the NCL, BCL one-day, and BCL four-day competitions, overall, I wouldn't say that I'm out of form," he said.
At 23, Akbar remains hopeful for another opportunity with the national team, acknowledging that the decision lies with the selectors. Besides his primary role as a wicketkeeper-batter, Akbar occasionally bowls in domestic cricket and has taken five wickets so far. He bowled one over in the match against Dhaka, joking that it was simply for fun after the match had moved beyond the possibility of a result.