Will Emon’s ‘courageous’ move to No. 4 work in the long run?

Parvez Hossain Emon has batted mostly as an opener in Bangladesh's T20I side, but with an opener-heavy top order at the moment, Emon could be seen at a new position in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Sylhet Titans have handed him the number-four role in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), and the 23-year-old made an immediate impact in his two outings so far. However, whether his natural instincts align with the position going forward remains a question.

In his first match for Sylhet, Emon struck an unbeaten 65 off 33 balls. His changed role saw him come to the crease in the ninth over against a softer ball, not always a comfortable prospect for an opener. However, the way he adapted -- batting in the daytime with the ball gripping the surface and then adjusting again under lights in Sylhet's next match -- was viewed positively.

"When you start something, you don't get comfortable immediately," BCB chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu told The Daily Star on Sunday when asked about Emon.

"Especially batting during the day and at night, there is a difference in application, and being able to adapt was good. I am happy that he showed the courage to sacrifice his own position and bat elsewhere," Lipu added.

After his fifty-plus knock in the first game, Emon said he was ready for any role, explaining that batting at number four allows him to "test and prove" himself, even though opening the innings is where he is "most comfortable".

Sylhet captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz suggested after the opening match against Rajshahi Warriors that, with the World Cup approaching, Emon was being "given an opportunity" to bat at four for the franchise.

Out of his 30 T20Is for Bangladesh, Emon has opened the innings 28 times. His only T20I appearance at number four came in the final match of the last series against Ireland. With Tanzid Tamim and Saif Hassan also in the opening mix, there was discussion about utilising openers in different roles, which was reflected in that final game.

"We had a plan that since he [Emon] can bat at four, if Saif Hassan opens, he will be able to bat at four easily because I thought Saif wasn't that comfortable at four," selector Hasibul Hossain Shanto told The Daily Star yesterday.

Hasibul also said that he had spoken to Emon about the number-four role he is currently playing for his franchise.

"Everyone is seeing it [his comfort at four]. I told Parvez, 'Look, you are scoring runs in T20s at four,' and he agreed. He will play at four, and if he is successful, he won't need to go back to opening," Hasibul said.

However, Hasibul insisted that the national selectors did not ask Sylhet Titans to play Emon at number four, although he mentioned that "maybe someone from the board did". He also made it clear that the role is not set in stone for the batter.

Emon's ability to adapt could see him continue at number four, depending on how many innings he gets there for Sylhet. Whether he develops the softer hands required to negotiate spin in the middle overs may define his success both in the BPL and in upcoming events, but whether this adaptation takes something away from his natural game remains to be seen.