‘Anik had infection from constant training, never missed practice’: sister reveals dedication

Following a prolific run in the domestic circuit over the last two years, wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik was eventually included in the Bangladesh T20 side for the upcoming three-match series against Ireland.

"Our dream came true, our brother got a call-up in the national team," Anik's sister Shakila Bobby was excited while talking to this reporter over the phone on Wednesday.

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Jaker responds to his journalist sister in heart-warming presser

Despite the excitement from the family members, Anik, however, is keeping his focus intact as the 25-year-old is looking to make an impact with his performance.

The selectors included Anik in place of Nurul Hasan Sohan based on his prolific run of form, where he scored 492 runs at an average of 98.40, striking three centuries, in the recently concluded Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), a first-class competition.

Although Anik's performance was better worthy of a Test cap consideration, chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu feels that the cricketer from Habiganj can also become a bright prospect for the Tigers in the shortest format. He scored 175 runs in 11 innings for Comilla Victorians in the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League T20 competition and was also amongst the runs with the A team across formats.

Anik was busy playing for Abahani Limited in the Dhaka Premier League game against Mohammedan when he got the news of his national call-up.

"I got to know that I was included in the Bangladesh T20 side during the game. Sujon sir [Khaled Mahmud] had previously told me to get prepared as there might be a chance for me. But it was confirmed in the dugout today," Anik told The Daily Star on Wednesday.

While Anik manages to hide his emotions but his sister reveals the dedication of her brother, "Everything seems like a dream as our dream of over a decade eventually came true. He got admitted in BKSP back in 2010 and since then he chased his dream with sheer determination and hard work. My brother has endured a lot.

"He never missed his practice while studying in BKSP and at one point he got an infection on his hand while training constantly. Since there was the selection of the Under-14 side, Anik hid his infection from the coaches and went to training wearing gloves," said Bobby.

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‘There is no scope to be complacent’

Anik played for the national age-level sides, including the Under-19 World Cup in 2016, but it will be a big challenge for the wicketkeeper-batter to prove his worth for the senior side where the expectation would be to score quick runs in the late middle order.

"I have batted in such a position [late middle order] in the BPL as I had the preparation to bat in such a position during that time. Even though I worked on slogging along with some of my personal preparations while training for Abahani, I am preparing myself accordingly," said Anik.