I have bigger dreams: Azmir

Azmir Ahmed celebrated his call-up to the Emerging Teams Asia Cup squad with a 151-run knock in a practice match at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar yesterday.

A mammoth 222-run innings in the First Division Cricket League in February brought the 21-year-old under the spotlight before an unbeaten 103-run knock in a practice match at Fatullah gave the selectors confidence in his ability. Now another big hundred off 137 balls, featuring 10 sixes and eight fours, seem to have reinforced the selectors' claim that he is of a different class.

"I retired after making 151 inside 40 overs," said the right-hander, who is studying BBA at the Govt. Titumir College.

However, Azmir is dreaming even bigger.

"I have had the confidence and dream that one day I will play cricket at the top level. I was just waiting for a chance. The double hundred has changed everything in my life so quickly that it still seems like a dream to me," Azmir said over phone.

"I born and brought up in Dhaka and am the youngest among five children. I fell in love with the game in my boyhood years. I played in the Standard Chartered National School Cricket Competition for Wills Little Flower School and played age group cricket for Dhaka Metro before joining Agrani Bank Cricket Club. But I had never trained in any camp under the Bangladesh Cricket Board before this," he continued.

It was not a trouble-free journey for Azmir, but instead of recalling those bitter experiences, he is looking forward to fulfilling his ambitions.

"It's not so easy in a middle-class family to live with cricket because you are not sure whether you can shine or not. I am no exception, but I only want to look forward. Everybody in my family is excited now. I have had the ambition, which I think has brought me here. Now it's my challenge to capitalise on this chance and fulfil my ambitions."

When asked about his batting style, he said: "Everything comes naturally to me and I never feel pressure which I think is my strength. I love to play positive cricket. Mushfiqur bhai [Mushfiqur Rahim], Tamim bhai [Tamim Iqbal], Ricky Ponting and Rohit Sharma are my favourite batsmen."

Azmir credited his coach and mentor Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, saying: "He has done everything for me and brought me where I am."

However, Chowdhury was not at all surprised by Azmir's rapid rise.

“I am not surprised because he is really special. I am hopeful that he will go far if he can continue his hard work. I have been guiding him since he was in class six and I have hardly seen such a gutsy batsman. He has all kind of shots in his arsenal and never feels pressure. You may have heard about his batting, but he is also a very good off-spinner. Even today he bowled three overs for two wickets while giving away only five runs."