Raqibul Hasan

Roqibul Hassan’s cricketing career had a fine start as he marked his first-class debut with a century and wrote himself into Bangladesh’s history books to become the first man ever to hit a triple century in first-class cricket.

At a young age of 20, selectors didn’t batter an eyelid before blooding him into the national side and only in his second ODI, Roqibul showed his class with a fine 63 against the South Africans. It was backed up with a well-compiled 89 against a strong Indian unit which consequently led to his call-up in Tests. The initial few appearances were a struggle, but Roqibul once again showed his mettle under pressure when his 65 in the second innings of a Test was not only instrumental in overhauling the West Indian target, but also gave Bangladesh its first-ever Test win away from home.

With the highs came the lows and though he didn’t suffer loss of form, lack of tall scores led to his axing from the ODI side and the 30-man squad for the 2010 World Twenty20. The decision infuriated the right hander, who, on the eve of a Test series against England in 2010, shocked the Bangladesh cricketing fraternity by announcing his retirement from international cricket at the mere age of 22. However, better sense prevailed and just a week later he reversed his decision.

Nicknamed ’Nirala’, Roqibul does have the technique and temperament to survive at the highest level but it is the strike rate which he needs to improve on.