Sabbir Rahman ended an arduous eight-year wait for a first-class century, striking a resolute hundred for Rajshahi against Khulna at Mirpur during the National Cricket League (NCL). Facing immense pressure following a dramatic first-innings collapse, the experienced batter constructed a patient 113 off 221 deliveries at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. His marathon effort helped Rajshahi salvage a hard-fought draw from an unpromising position, sparking fresh discussions regarding his potential return to international cricket.
Playing in his 84th first-class match, the 32-year-old registered his fifth century in the longer format. His last three-figure score in first-class cricket arrived back in June 2018, when he hit 165 for Bangladesh ‘A’ against Sri Lanka ‘A’ in Chattogram. Since that memorable knock, Sabbir struggled to replicate similar form in red-ball cricket, enduring a lengthy dry spell that saw him drop out of national contention.
Rajshahi’s fortunes looked dire early in the match after they were bundled out for a paltry 119 in their first innings. Confronting a substantial deficit, their top order produced a determined display in the second innings. Resuming the final day on 300 for 3, Rajshahi built their second-innings response around a crucial partnership between Sabbir and skipper Pritom Kumar. Pritom contributed a solid 44 before falling, leaving Sabbir to anchor the remainder of the innings with remarkable discipline.
Striking eight boundaries and a towering six, Sabbir absorbed the pressure and carefully monitored the match situation. By the time he departed as the ninth wicket with the score at 474, he had completely shut the door on a Khulna victory. Rajshahi eventually batted through to reach 500 for 9 before the match concluded in a draw. The turnaround from a 119-run first innings to a mammoth 500-run total stands as a highlight of Rajshahi’s domestic campaign.
Once a mainstay in Bangladesh’s white-ball setups owing to his aggressive strokeplay, Sabbir’s international career has stalled due to inconsistent domestic returns. Whilst this match-saving century provides a timely reminder of his temperament, national selectors will demand sustained run-scoring across the domestic calendar before contemplating a call-up. Fitness, tactical discipline, and adaptability in varied conditions will remain key metrics alongside his overall run tally.
Concurrently in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram completed an emphatic victory over Barishal, prevailing by an innings and one run. After posting a formidable first-innings total of 576, Chattogram bowled Barishal out for 282 and promptly enforced the follow-on. Resuming their second innings on the final morning at 149 for 4, Barishal offered brief resilience through Rafsan Al Mahmud and Moinul Islam, reaching 226 for 4 at lunch.
However, the afternoon session witnessed a sharp collapse. Rafsan fell for 72 while Moinul departed for 41, triggering a slide that saw Barishal folded for 293. Left-arm spinner Ashraful Hasan Rohan did the heavy lifting for Chattogram, picking up 5 for 77. Fellow left-arm spinner Hasan Murad claimed two wickets, in the process reaching the milestone of 200 first-class wickets. The triumph handed Chattogram their first win of the season, taking their total to 11 points including bonus points, whereas Barishal remain point-less after consecutive losses.
Would you like me to draft a follow-up analysis on Hasan Murad’s rise through the domestic ranks toward national selection?