'Disappointed, but no conspiracy': Akbar takes omission as challenge

Bangladesh cricketers have had a rather busy few months. The national team toured Australia for a historic Test series, the Bangladesh ‘A’ and Emerging teams played across formats in South Africa, while the High Performance side featured in the Top End T20 series Down Under.

More than 60 players from the country’s cricket pool were involved across those campaigns. But one name was conspicuously absent from all of them: Akbar Ali.

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The U-19 World Cup-winning captain did not make any of those squads, despite coming off arguably the best season of his career. As captain of Rangpur Division, Akbar led his side to two domestic titles last season, winning both the National Cricket League (NCL) T20 and four-day competitions.

Instead, the wicketkeeper-batter spent his time in England playing club cricket. His omission inevitably raised questions within the cricket community.

On Tuesday, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s first-ever First-Class baggy cap presentation to the NCL captains, Akbar admitted that being left out of all the squads had hurt. But the 24-year-old said he did not see any conspiracy behind the decision.

“First of all, I don’t want to go down the conspiracy-theory route. That’s my honest answer,” Akbar told reporters.

“Four or five teams went away and I wasn’t part of any of them. As an individual, of course, it felt bad, and I think it should feel bad as a player when you’re not selected.

As an individual, of course, it felt bad, and I think it should feel bad as a player when you’re not selected.

“But at the same time, I see this as a bigger challenge for me this year. I have to prove myself and improve in the areas where I can do better.”

Akbar said he had spoken to the selectors about what they wanted to see improve in his game, describing the conversation as positive.

“I did communicate with the selectors and asked what improvements they wanted to see from me. It was a positive conversation,” he said.

I did communicate with the selectors and asked what improvements they wanted to see from me. It was a positive conversation.

“But, as I said, it felt bad as an individual. I’m taking it as a challenge.”

The absence was particularly noticeable given the number of opportunities that opened up across Bangladesh’s representative teams during the period. Akbar, however, stopped short of suggesting that he was owed a place.

“I think I could have been there,” he said. “But again, it’s the selectors’ call, and there’s nothing I can do about that.”

For Akbar, the response is therefore straightforward: perform and force his way back into the conversation.

“What I can control is performing well in the matches ahead and putting my name back on the table,” he said.

One area where he is prepared to make a change is his batting position. Akbar has generally operated lower down the order, but believes moving up could give him another avenue to make an impression.

“I’ll try to bat at No. 5,” he said. “I have no problem with that.”