Jaker’s fall from grace

An automatic choice across formats not too long ago, wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik has experienced a rapid rise and fall in just over a year.

After missing all three ODIs against the West Indies in Mirpur, Jaker was again left out for yesterday's opening T20I in Chattogram. However, his omission surprised few, given his lean run of form, and concerns have grown over his limited shot range and inability to clear the ropes in the slog overs -- shortcomings that have drawn increasing scrutiny.

Critics had contended that Jaker should have been omitted from Bangladesh's previous T20I series against Afghanistan. Instead, the team management entrusted the 27-year-old with the captaincy in the absence of regular skipper Litton Das who was sidelined with a side strain injury -- continuing the trend from the Asia Cup. Ironically, Jaker lost his place in the very match that marked the regular skipper's return.

Jaker's international journey began at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, but it was his explosive 34-ball 68 against Sri Lanka in March 2024 -- featuring six towering sixes -- that announced his arrival. Strong follow-up performances in the Zimbabwe T20Is secured him a spot in Bangladesh's T20 World Cup squad later that year.

He carried that momentum into the longer formats too. In Tests, Jaker impressed with a fifty on debut against South Africa in Chattogram before producing a match-winning 91 in Kingston during Bangladesh's historic win over the West Indies. His ODI start was equally promising -- an unbeaten 37 on debut against Sri Lanka followed by scores of 48 and 62 not out in the Caribbean, even though Bangladesh lost both games.

But the spark has faded since. Jaker has gone four ODIs without a fifty, managed single-digit scores in his last three Test innings and has failed to reach double figures in four of his last six T20I innings.

As Bangladesh prepare to host Ireland for a two-match Test series next month, and with Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim both fit and Mahidul Islam Ankon pressing for inclusion, Jaker now faces an uphill battle to reclaim his place.