Amite Hasan's National Call-Up Questioned Despite Strong Domestic Performance

Amite Hasan has been consistent with the bat in domestic cricket, including in HP (High Performance) and 'A' teams. However, players with lower batting averages than him are receiving calls to the national team. This raises the question: why is Amite overlooked despite his strong performances? According to Mohammad Isam, ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh representative, the answer lies in a Facebook post he made, suggesting that to catch the selectors' attention, one must practice at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, rather than playing so-called “non-official” matches.

Injury concerns have seen players like Mahedi Hasan Ankon called up for Liton Das (due to fever), making his debut against South Africa. Similarly, Shahadat Hossain Dipu was included in the Bangladesh squad for the Test series against the West Indies due to injury to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. Yet, despite being a top performer, Amite Hasan's name is still missing from the squad.

When it comes to the longer version of domestic cricket, Amite is far ahead of Ankon and Dipu. His performance in the ongoing National Cricket League (NCL) should have made him the top choice for the Bangladesh Test squad. Playing for Sylhet, Amit has accumulated nearly 466 runs at an average of almost 80, including a double century against Khulna. In contrast, Dipu has managed just 158 runs at an average of 27, while Ankon’s performance has been subpar as well, scoring only 102 runs in first-class cricket, well below Amit’s standard.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) forms HP and ‘A’ teams based on players' performances in domestic cricket. Players excelling in limited-overs formats are prioritized for the ODI team, while those performing well in first-class cricket are considered for the four-day matches. Amite also leads both Ankon and Dipu in the HP team’s performance. In 186 runs at an average of 31, Amit has registered two fifties, with solid performances against Pakistan Shaheens and Sri Lanka Emerging Teams. On the other hand, Dipu has only 149 runs at an average of 22, without a single fifty. Ankon fares even worse, with only 102 runs and no fifties, leaving him with an average in the low 20s.

Despite performing well in domestic cricket, Amite is still unable to grab the selectors’ attention. In response, Mohammad Isam posted on Facebook, sharing his thoughts on how selectors seem to ignore domestic performances. He wrote: “Advice for all domestic cricketers: Please do not focus on runs or wickets. It doesn’t matter what you do here. Your performance will not get you a call-up to the Test team.”

Isam further suggested that players should focus on practicing at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium rather than playing unofficial matches. He believes that this will attract more attention from the selectors. “Focus more on practicing at Mirpur, as it will be more beneficial for catching the selectors’ eye than playing unofficial matches,” Isam wrote on Facebook.

However, Amite may be at a disadvantage, as he was born and raised in Narayanganj and plays for Sylhet in domestic cricket. While players from Dhaka or Khulna often find it easier to get media attention, it’s not the same for players from Sylhet. As former cricketer Rajin Saleh pointed out, players from Dhaka or Khulna tend to get more focus, which could explain why Amit, despite his stellar performances, has not yet received a call-up to the national team.

In conclusion, despite Amite Hasan’s impressive run-scoring feats and consistent performances, the lack of attention from the selectors remains a frustrating issue for him.