What is a safe, defendable T20 score? Many people like to say 180 is a good total to defend. But Parvez Hossain, an 18-year-old left-handed batsman from Chattogram, proved yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur that it is the most difficult question to answer in the shortest version of the game.
It seemed like an impossible task for Fortune Barishal after Minister Group Rajshahi captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a blazing hundred (55-ball 109), the first three figure-mark of the tournament, to put 220 runs on the board in the day’s first game of the Bangabandhu T20 Cup.
But a nonchalant Parvez took the opportunity with both hands and prove his big-hitting ability, turning the contest into a blockbuster one on way to keeping his side’s hopes alive in the competition. Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal could only say that he enjoyed watching the youngster’s innings.
The risks involved with going all-out are too big when chasing such a big target, but the former Bangladesh under-19 batsman looked self-assured all through his unbeaten 42-ball 100, an innings featured seven sixes and nine fours and guided his side to an eight-wicket win with 11 balls to spare.
Najmul, the first centurion of the day, has been in the national set-up for some time, but young Parvez was like a bolt out of the blue yesterday.
Many might have been surprised watching him bat with the prowess and the courage of taking the challenge on but it was no surprise for those who knew him closely from his early age. The former student of Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) had developed the reputation of being a big-hitter right from age-level cricket.
“He has always been an attacking cricketer who wants to hit right from the word go. He has been doing this since the under-15 days when we first spotted him. He was keen on going out in the middle and taking the challenge and we found some similarities between him and Tamim Iqbal, who was like this too in his early days. He is a special talent who has born in the T20 culture and he wants to express himself which makes him a fearless cricketer,” Hannan Sarkar, the age-level selector, told The Daily Star.
Much like Tamim, who was known for hitting big sixes during his teenage years, this young Chittagonian batsman always wants to express himself.
Whether it was his straight-batted six over long-on to a pacer or a slap back past cover region, Parvez was in his own zone yesterday.
The left-hander showed glimpses of his talent striking a fifty in the first match of the tournament, but it was indeed refreshing to witness him express himself under the huge pressure in yesterday’s match. And it certainly gives hope to everyone that new star for the Tigers might be in the making.
