Munim Shahriar could be the fearless new-gen batter Bangladesh have been waiting for

Munim’s 161.81 strike-rate has simply made him probably the most talked-about Bangladeshi batter within the match

“After I used to be dropped for 2 matches, (Mahmud) Sujon sir informed me, ‘Why are you so anxious? Simply play freely.’ These phrases actually had an impression on me,” Munim tells ESPNcricinfo. “Within the subsequent sport, I made 92 off 50 balls towards Prime Financial institution, and adopted it up with a 40-ball 74. I completed the league with 355 runs at 143 strike fee.”

Mahmud had first met Munim throughout the 2019-20 Dhaka Premier League, when Abahani have been searching for an opener within the 50-over competitors. Mosaddek Hossain, a senior determine in Mymensingh, which can also be Munim’s hometown, and Najmul Hossain Shanto, Munim’s Below-19 team-mate, had advisable him to Mahmud.

“After I used to be dropped for 2 matches, (Khaled Mahmud) Sujon sir informed me, ‘Why are you so anxious? Simply play freely'”

Munim Shahriar

That dialog was the turning level in Munim’s profession. His efficiency for Abahani impressed Mahmud, who then picked him for Fortune Barishal for this season’s BPL. Munim was picked up belatedly, after nobody turned his approach within the gamers’ draft. However forward of the ultimate, he has the very best strike fee for any Bangladeshi batter in a single marketing campaign (minimal 100 runs).

Munim has a really trendy type of batting: largely standing nonetheless and hitting by means of the road of the ball. He has performed some breath-taking pictures within the BPL, significantly over mid-off. Throughout the first qualifier towards Comilla Victorians, there was a second of silence when he smashed Mustafizur Rahman for a six over midwicket. It was a standard pull shot, however Munim made a last-second adjustment by straightening his wrist barely. It not simply regarded trendy, however confirmed that he may tackle the nation’s finest T20 bowler too. And win.

Munim’s strike fee of 161.81 has simply made him probably the most talked-about Bangladeshi batter within the match. He has made 178 runs in 5 innings, and when you have adopted Bangladesh’s plights in T20Is the final seven months, it is easy to see why everybody is worked up. He may now be a shoo-in for a call-up for the 2 T20Is towards Afghanistan in early March.

The 23-year-old Munim, nevertheless, is not wanting that far forward simply but. He has the BPL closing in thoughts, and he desires to deal with the job at hand.

“After I missed out the primary few matches due to Covid, I wanted a little bit of time to organize for the BPL,” he says. “The crew was making an attempt a couple of opening combos. (Jake) Lintott and (Dwayne) Bravo opened with (Chris) Gayle at one level. The evening earlier than my first sport, Sujon sir informed me that I’d get to play 4 matches. It gave me the liberty.”

Munim could be very conscious that getting runs like he does – going after the bowling from the phrase go – on Bangladeshi pitches is a high-risk sport. “I’ve solely performed two tournaments so there is a lengthy strategy to go. I do know that I’ve batted this manner, and it’s way more essential to have the ability to play on this method within the long-term.

“Those that know me are conscious that I’ve an aggressive mindset as a batsman. I comply with the method and keep on with the plan too. I attempt to reap the benefits of the circle, and I like batting towards the brand new ball. I’ve batted like this since my faculty days. I even batted like this in three-day matches as nicely. My coach (the late Hayatul Islam Hannan) all the time skilled me to bat this manner.”

There are sufficient cautionary tales in Bangladesh cricket for Munim to bear in mind. One-hit wonders are many, although a couple of Bangladeshi batters have used the BPL as their launching pads.

However Munim has the eagerness and batting type that Bangladesh have lengthy wanted in white-ball cricket. There’s reward in backing a expertise like him – assume David Warner. Whether or not he stays the course or not is one other matter, however he may nicely change Bangladesh’s batting strategy in T20I cricket if he will get a run.