What Aftab will end up as? Batter or Bowler?

[betaar]

The reason for this thread is to discuss what actual talents our cricketers’ posses.

I know, we, including me, are ecstatic with Aftab’s performance today. Though we lost the match, he swung the match single handedly toward our way. But swung he did, not with the bat but with the ball, though he’s in the team for his batting.

But lately this trend has been visible where players are chosen for one particular reason (batting/ bowling) end up being another.

Example,
Ashraful was included as a spinner, ended up as the premiere batting talent. Alok Kapali started as a leggy and succeeded as batsman for a short while and failed miserably in the end. And it’s not that they evolved as the time progressed, it just happened so radically in a short period of time that it’s fair to ask the selectors what specific talent did they see in those players when they picked them.

Considering the trend I’m inclined to say that selectors are not quite picking the players for the right reasons. This misjudgment by the selectors scares me thinking that may be they are not capable of picking the best eleven for BD.

Please be advised that I’m not against the selectors. I know that they are doing their best within the shortage of talents and options that they have. But could they do better?

Let’s hear what you guys have to say.

[ZunaidH]

Betaar;

In my opinion, the answer lies in the following:

"to think or not to think, that is the question". I think Afteb knew the basics, he put his thinking hat on and when given an opportunity he fought for his pride. So the combination is: basics, intelligence and pride.

Nothing wrong with the selectors

[Rubu]

i dont think it really has much to do with selectors. jaysuria and kalu'rana used to bat at 8 and 9, we all know the story. afridi came to the team as a genuin spinner. one gambling decision of amir shohel change him to a hard hitting opening batsman, and as long as he survived, he did so mainly as batsman. there are many other examples. BUT..... did u see the trend here? including all the bangladeshi players and foreigners, the trend is one sided, a chosen bowler became a batsman. i can't think of a single example where a chosen batsman completely changed to a bowler and forgot batting. so, it will be highly unlikely that aftab will turn into a pure bowler. but it is very likely that one more good show and good bye to chacha and mushfiq as suggested by many.

here is why: all 11 member of the team has to bat, regardless of position, but only 5/6 bowls. so, a bowler turned batsman might stop bowling or put less emphasis on it and becomes batsman. on the otherhand, a batsman turned bowler still has to bat so, can't completely ignore practicing that. and usually turns to an "bat some bowl some" alrounder.

[bourny3]

Aftab is certainly not a bowler. He was lucky to get his 5 wickets even he said so. He is definitely a batter and might be a partnership breaker with the ball but he wont ever be a bowler.

[Ahmed_B]

Aftab had a background as a bowler.. .but never had such good record.. In his future matches he may not get such big success in bowling!
Yet again.. he might!!... who knows??

And his batting ability is already proven in lower levels... but yet to be proven in Int. levels.

So to find the reply to your question.. we do hav to wait untill atlest 4-5 series he plays.. so pls be patient!

[Zephaniah]

Aftab could be an important part of the jigsaw, even if he can establish himself as DEPENDABLE part time medium pace bowler at 1st change. So we can not only get rid of mediocres like Mushfique and aging Mahmood but also it would be much easier to slot in 'struggling' Rajin in the ODI's. If our plan is to play 6 specialist batsmen + 4 bowler then we would need accurate 1st change medium-pace bowling from a part-timer in the first 15 overs. If Afteb can bowl 4 to 6 overs economically at that period then Rajin can be used to finish off the rest part of the 5th bowling option.

[bourny3]

Good news to have Aftab coming through. Because now if he is in the test team and we are on a spinning pitch we can play either Tapash or Nazmul, or Mashrafe if fit. And have Enamul Rafique and Rana in the same side. Aftab will open the bowling.

[shaoun]

aftab getting 5 wickets is a plus for bangladesh team. we will find out if this was a fluke or not. i think this may hurt his career in the long run if he pays more attention to his bowling then batting. remember when kapali got hatrick against pakistan. after that he didnt get runs nor wickets. i hope this doesnt happen to aftab. but if he can bowl then he can be used as part time bowler like rajin or ashraful. but his main job is batting bc we need batsman more then bowlers.

[Arnab]

Aftab is probably not a genuine bowler. This 5 wicket thing is a lucky fluke. Don't get too encouraged.

Aftab is probably a much better batsman than he is a bowler and he needs to hone his primary craft: batting.

[Tehsin]

I side with Arnab on this one. it was probably a one time dal, amaziing performance but may be once in a lifetime performance against any test nation. Having said that, he wil probably give usa good backup medium pacer when he bowls using his head, as he did in the second match. Frankly, I'd love to see his bat doing the talking.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Loser....and i will explain why


whenever a new guy has come on and performed well for the BD side, it was a one time show, and then he was eventually thrown out or became a burden for the side. So my verdict is that he will eventually turn out to be a loser like Kaps or Hannan "Quack Quack" Sarkar