Aftab Ahmed
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 Bangladesh (Ban) |
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| Batting style | Right-hand bat | |
| Bowling type | Right-arm medium | |
| Tests | ODIs | |
| Matches | 10 | 47 |
| Runs scored | 395 | 1108 |
| Batting average | 20.78 | 27.02 |
| 100s/50s | -/1 | -/9 |
| Top score | 82* | 81* |
| Balls bowled | 35 | 101.5 |
| Wickets | 3 | 10 |
| Bowling average | 58.66 | 51.60 |
| 5 wickets in innings | - | 1 |
| 10 wickets in match | - | N/A |
| Best bowling | 1/28 | 5/31 |
| Catches/stumpings | 4/- | 8/- |
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As of 11 December 2006 |
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Aftab Ahmed Chowdhury(Bengali: আফতাব আহমেদ চৌধুরী ) (born 10 November 1985 in Chittagong) is a Bangladeshi cricketer, and widely judged to be one of their best batsmen.
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[edit] Early life
Aftab Ahmed was born and spend most of his childhood in Chittagong. His first school was St. Mary's School. In his early days Aftab was careless about playing international cricket and even thought it as a torture. He even refused to get admitted into BKSP as he had to leave his family and friends for it. But his father was valiant fan of sports and wanted his son to become a cricketer. But Aftab remained passive about his cricketing carrier and have the record of leaving camp. He was also frustrated about the camps as he was not been selected. He said, "I was called many times in the camp but never got a chance in the team." But his waiting paid divedence when he finally received a call from the team. One day as he was playing he received a long awaiting call from the national team. But his father who played a major role in his emerging was unable to hear the announcement. He died during the 1999 Cricket World Cup[1]
[edit] International Carrier
He made his international debut at the 2004 Champions Trophy, and, despite scoring a thirteen-ball duck was persisted with owing to good performances at Under-19 level for Bangladesh. Although he made his debut a only a few years back, Aftab Ahmed has already earned quite a few achievements in his international carrier. Only in his third match of his carrier he took five wickets to become the first Bangladeshi bowler to achieve this feet in ODI. With his gentle medium pace he took for 31 against New Zealand in the second of three ODI between the two teams, which has led him to bowl ten overs in most Bangladeshi games. His record breaking success earned him a man of the match award in that match against New Zealand. Though he got early success with bowl in hand he still considered him as a batsman who can bowl a bit. He first major success with the bat came in at one of the historical moments of Bangladesh cricket. In the 100th ODI match of Bangladesh, Ahmed scored his maiden fifty which later proved to vital as Bangladesh narrowly bit India by 14 runs in that match. That was also the first home victory for the tigers. Since then Aftab got runs consistently in the one day matches. He made a hugely important knock of 81 n.o. against Zimbabwe to clinch the series at the last game as it hanged 2-2 before the decider. Bangladesh came back from 2-0 down and won the series to become only the second team to win a five match series after losing the first two games. In the disappointing Test series against England when Bangladesh toured England in 2005 which was happened to be their first, He made somewhat of a name for himself when Bangladesh toured England in 2005, scoring his first Test fifty with 82 not out as Bangladesh made 316 in the second innings of the second Test, and also made 51 in the first ODI against England in the 2005 NatWest Series. But the whole disappointment vanished when Bangladesh beat Australia in an ODI in that tour. Matching his habit of rising with the bat on crusial moments, Aftab played a cameo of 23 in just 17 balls and sailed Bangladesh home. He came in the crease at the key moment of the match when more runs than balls were necessary. But his partnership with Rafique kept Bangladesh pretty much favourites to win the match at that point. But in the last over when seven runs required, it was a pretty much anybodies game. But when he launched the first ball of Gillespie’s last over mid-wicket for a six the match became completely official. He also took the final run to achieve an incredible victory for Bangladesh. Again in 2005 when Bangladesh was nearly 60 runs away to register their first victory over Sri Lanka Aftab came into the crease and made a match winning 50 runs partnership with Alok Kapali. This time adjudicators made no mistakes to make him man of the match. Later he regarded this match as his most memorable one.
[edit] ICC Champions Trophy 2006
In the first match of The ICC Champions Trophy 2006 Srilanka VS Bangladesh Aftab though didn't bowled but batted well coming 1 down and scoring a quick 33 of 31 bowls thus increasing Bangladesh's run rate but he was then bowled by Maharoof and it looked like as if Bangladesh might lose and they did
[edit] Carrier Highlights
[edit] Tests
Test Debut: vs New Zealand, MA Aziz, 2004
- got his highest score of 82n.o. in Test cricket against England, Chester-le-Street, 2005
[edit] ODIs
ODI Debut: vs South Africa, Birmingham, 2004-2005
- made his highest score of 81n.o. against Zimbabwe, Bangabandhu, 2004-2005
- his best bowling figure of 5/31 came against New Zealand, Bangabandhu
[edit] Criticisms
Aftab Ahmed is criticised for not taking time at the crease and often regarded unnatured in Tests. But he determined to plunge forward with his own style. He insisted, "If I do not have the ability to play Test cricket, I would not. But I also want to say I will achieve that quality. But not changing my own style."[2]
[edit] Sponsorship
On 30 March 2006 Aftab signed a contact with PHP Group (a well-known industrial group in Bangladesh) to be their official brand ambassador.
[edit] References
- ^ Chutir Dine, The Daily Prothom Alo, April 8, 2006
- ^ Chutir Dine, The Daily Prothom Alo, April 8, 2006
