Sports Desk

Bangladesh wicket-keeper batsman Jaker Ali said on Friday that it feels like a dream come true for him to get selected in the Test squad for the tour of India.

Jaker, who is known for his T20 exploits, is a surprise selection in the squad.

The right-handed batter scored 172 runs against Pakistan A to put his name forward as a candidate to make a cut in the longer-version cricket.

He made his Bangladesh debut during last year's Asian Games in Hangzhou and first caught everyone's attention in the shortest format with his brilliant showing in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024, smashing 199 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 141.13.

Later he was picked for the home T20I series against Sri Lanka and in the first match smashed 68 off 34 balls and was looking to pull off a thrilling win chasing 207.

However, he failed to do justice to his promise in the following 14 T20Is while making only 266 runs at an average of 38 seven innings National Cricket League (NCL) 2023-24, country’s traditional first-class competition.

Jaker, however, showed promise during Bangladesh 'A' team's tour of Pakistan last month, hitting a 172 off 286 balls at a strike rate 60.13 against Pakistan Shaheens in the second of the two four-day games to caught the eye of the selection panel.

“Every cricketer dreams to play Test cricket and I am happy to get selected (in the Test squad). I am playing first-class cricket since 2017 and Alhamdulillah, I try to give my best in domestic cricket irrespective of formats and want to follow that process,” Jaker told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.

“I think the selectors felt that I am capable enough and that is the reason they have selected and now it is my duty to give my best and there is planning with the cricketers who will play. I will try to play according to my plan but will try to score runs following it,” he said.

“I prepared for both the formats and I just need to change my mindset and play. I am not thinking about it (whether I will be picked to play or not) when I will have the chance I will get Insha’Allah. My job is to score runs and perform and I am focusing on that,” he said.

Jaker said that the two-match Test series win over Pakistan make them confident to do well against India.

“Winning the two Tests in a dominating way is an indication of changed culture. Because we played the last series very well we will be carrying that confidence. I think we are trying to achieve something that we failed to do before,” said Jaker.

Jaker added that he feels sorry to hear that first-class cricket is called as picnic cricket while adding that they must also thank the local coaches for their contribution behind developing them.

“First-class cricket is very important for us and I felt hurt to hear that first-class cricket is picnic cricket and we know how hard we play as a player and so please don’t say these things (first-class cricket is picnic cricket) and I am playing since 2017 and I know how difficult it is to score each run. I would request as a player, we are working hard and the first-class cricket is doing well and will get better in the coming days,” said Jaker.

“The local coaches - Sohel Sir and Babul Sir worked on double shift in the morning. They have guided us in red-ball cricket and in the evening they worked with white-ball cricketers. So you know how hard they work and you cannot ignore the contribution of the domestic coaches. They do a thankless job and we don’t highlight them and it’s difficult to put names but everyone contributed behind me because I worked with most of the coaches and they know from childhood and we could work freely with them,” he concluded.