Is Amite Missing from the Discussions Just Because He Plays for Sylhet?

Since his debut in first-class cricket, Amite Hasan’s bat has been a fountain of runs. He scored a century in his debut match for Sylhet in the National Cricket League (NCL), followed by six more centuries. He has also added a double century to his tally, along with eight half-centuries. His batting average is over 49. Despite these impressive numbers, Amite has largely remained out of the spotlight, especially from the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) perspective, even though his stats speak volumes.

To make his mark, Amite recently converted his eighth first-class century into a double century against Khulna in Cox’s Bazar. He faced 455 balls and scored 213 runs, hitting 18 fours and a six. With this, he not only fulfilled the regret of missing out on a double century in 2021 but also seems to have brought himself into the spotlight.

However, staying out of discussions despite performing well is nothing new for Amite. Consider the U-19 World Cup-winning team, where Amit was initially part of the standby list. Despite having the required talent, he didn’t make it to the main squad due to the team combination.

Even after missing out on youth opportunities, Amite did not lose hope. He waited for the right moment to showcase his talent, and in 2019, that chance came. At that time, Sylhet’s young talents Zakir Hasan and Jaker Ali Anik were representing BCB's High-Performance (HP) and ‘A’ teams. To fill the gap left by Zakir and Jaker, Sylhet's coach Rajin Saleh reached out to his friend, former selector Hannan Sarkar, who recommended Amit from Narayanganj.

Recalling the time when Amite was included in the Sylhet team, Rajin Saleh shared, "When Afif Hossain, Zakir Hasan, and Jaker Ali Anik went to play for the national HP team, I called Hannan Sarkar to ask for a batsman who could play first-class cricket. Hannan suggested Amite Hassan, who was in the U-19 World Cup squad as a standby. I brought him into the team, and Amit scored a century in his debut match. Having been a cricketer myself, I can often sense a player’s potential. I just made sure that everyone understood their roles, and they played their natural game."

From that debut match, Amite has been a key pillar for Sylhet’s batting in the National Cricket League. With a batting average of around 48, he has scored 1,667 runs for Sylhet, including one double century, three centuries, and eight half-centuries. His highest score is 213, though another innings of 186 was cut short due to an umpire’s mistake.

In 2021, during a match against Rangpur at BKSP, Amite was on his way to a double century when a controversial umpire decision ended his innings at 186. He was caught behind off a delivery from leg-spinner Tanvir Haider, but the umpire mistakenly ruled him out.

Amite has also been consistent in the Bangladesh Cricket League, with an average of nearly 54 and 750 runs, including four centuries, with a highest score of 131. Despite this impressive consistency, Amite’s name has yet to feature prominently in national discussions. He has yet to receive a call-up to the national team, with the BCB only selecting him for the HP and ‘A’ teams, where he has continued to impress with innings of 65 against the Sri Lanka Emerging team and 71 against Pakistan HP.

While players like Mahidul Islam Ankon and Litton Das have been called up due to injuries and illness, Amite has yet to make the leap, even though his first-class performances far outweigh those of Ankon. Amite not only excels with the bat but is also a reliable wicketkeeper.

The fact that Amite has yet to receive a national call-up raises questions about the BCB’s evaluation of first-class cricket. Despite an average of 45 in first-class cricket, Amite has not even been included in a national camp. His name rarely comes up in media discussions either, especially compared to players excelling in shorter formats like the BPL and DPL.

Former national team star Enamul Haque Junior believes that first-class performances should be given priority when selecting the Test squad. He said, "In many countries, like India, players such as Cheteshwar Pujara are considered Test specialists. But in our country, the focus shifts to players who perform well in the BPL and DPL. The BCB should place more emphasis on first-class performances when selecting the Test team. If a player is consistently performing well, they should be called up, especially if they are playing the right kind of cricket for Test matches."

Former cricketer Alok Kapali also expressed his concern over the current trend of ignoring consistent first-class performers in favor of those excelling in shorter formats. He added, "In our country, the spotlight tends to be on players who perform well in the BPL or DPL. We often overlook the solid performers in first-class cricket, like Amite."

Rajin Saleh, who has worked closely with Amite, agrees that the young wicketkeeper-batsman has the potential for the national team but needs more time and exposure to refine his technique. He believes that with continued performances in the HP and 'A' teams and a few more years of development, Amit will be ready for the national squad. "Amite has been consistent, and his technique is improving. The BCB has big plans for him, and I believe he will be called up soon," Rajin added.

Enamul and Kapali both believe that Amite still has time on his side and needs to focus on honing his skills and consistency. Enamul said, "Amite still has time to improve. He should continue to accumulate runs and work on his skills. Once he gets his chance in the national team, he will be ready to seize it."

On the subject of Amit’s leadership, Enamul is also impressed with his ability to lead Sylhet in the absence of Zakir. "He has great communication skills and has shown strong leadership qualities. He could have left Sylhet, but he chose to stay. That shows his commitment, and as a leader, he has done very well."

In conclusion, despite consistent performances in both first-class and limited-overs cricket, Amite Hasan’s name is still missing from the national discussion. Whether due to playing for Sylhet or his focus on the longer format, it remains to be seen when the BCB will finally recognize his potential and call him up to the national team. However, with continued growth and performances, Amit’s time could come soon, and when it does, he seems likely to make a significant impact.