N Iqbal

Nafees Iqbal, unlike his uncle Akram Khan and younger brother Tamim Iqbal, did not make it big in international cricket. However, the opening batsman played a vital role in Bangladesh’s first Test series victory. He captained Bangladesh in the 2002 edition of the Under-19 World Cup. Nafees grabbed headlines at the age of 18 when he termed visiting England’s spinners ‘poor’ after smashing 112 for Bangladesh A in a warm-up fixture.

Nafees made his international debut against the same opponents in the 50-over format, but failed to even get into double digits in both the matches. Against a top-notch South African side, when Bangladesh got bundled out for 93, Nafees top-scored with 40 batting at No. 3. This knock helped him to receive a maiden Test call-up against New Zealand. Opening the innings in the second essay, Nafees scored 49 runs - highest score in the innings - against a potent Kiwi bowling attack.

He was at his peak during the home series against Zimbabwe in January 2005. In the longest format, Nafees struck a half-century in the first Test, which eventually turned out to be Bangladesh’s historic maiden Test win. And, the right-handed opener backed it up with a magnificent century (121) in the fourth innings of the second Test, which helped in Zimbabwe drawing the Test on a nervous final day and thereby winning the first-ever Test series. Nafees continued to make merry in the ODIs as he scored two half-tons, where Bangladesh came from behind (0-2) to take the series 3-2.

Nafees was predominantly a leg-side player with limited strokes against the quicks. He liked to use his feet against the spinners and was strong square of the wicket. With time his weaknesses were exploited. The form dipped evident by the string of low scores and Nafees Iqbal was eventually dropped from the side. He last played for Bangladesh in 2006 in a Test match. In 2016, Nafees was named as Khulna Titans’ Team Manager.

Written by Nikhil Jadhav