Bangladesh Cricket Players
Aftab Ahmed
Aftab Ahmed first came to the attention of the Bangladeshi
selectors after scoring 79 against South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup in 2002,
and the following year he was pitched into the Test squad to face England,
despite having failed to impress in two earlier warm-up matches.
His selection was initially viewed with suspicion by the local media,
who regarded Aftab as something of a one-day cowboy, and sure enough,
his desire to belt the cover off a ball has resulted in some all-too-brief performances.
His potential, however, is plain to see, and his selection for the seminal tour of England in May 2005 was evidence of the selectors' faith, which he repaid at Chester-le-Street with a defiant carefree 82 not out, the highest score for Bangladesh in the series. His medium-pacers have potential as well, as he showed with an astonishing one-day haul of 5 for 31 against New Zealand in November 2004. He led Bangladesh to a 3-2 series victory with an unbeaten 81 in the final match against Zimbabwe in January 2005. Since then, barring a run-a-ball 82 in the second Test at Chester-le-Street, he's hit a lean patch, managing only 14 per innings in Sri Lanka in September.
