Once a promising young talent who played for the Rangpur Riders in the BPL, Minhajul Abedin Afridi now finds himself on the sidelines of Bangladesh cricket. Despite years in the High Performance and A teams, injury setbacks and limited opportunities have kept him from realizing his full potential.
In an exclusive interview with ‘Daily Times of Bangladesh’, Afridi opens up about the struggles of being a leg-spinner in Bangladesh, his relentless work ethic after injury, and the dream of one day representing the national team. Here are the excerpts…
You played in the BPL at a young age, but then you were nowhere to be seen in mainstream cricket. How has your journey been since then?
My journey started well. After playing in the BPL, I was in the HP (High Performance) team for four years, then in the A team. But I didn’t get many chances to play matches. I was part of every team except the national team. I was even supposed to play for the national team, but the opportunity never came. At one stage, I got injured too. Since making a comeback in 2022, I haven’t had the chance to play any matches in recognized cricket.
Bangladesh has seen a revolution in leg spin — Rishad is being backed by the team management, and there are many leg-spinners in the pipeline. Do you think you got fewer opportunities compared to them?
Maybe that’s the reason I didn’t get enough match opportunities. Not just me, leg-spinners in Bangladesh’s domestic cricket don’t get many chances. Rishad is an exception. I believe if I had gotten the chance, I could have played at a higher level.
What are your plans regarding cricket now?
Since recovering, I’ve been working on my cricket continuously. No opportunities have come yet, but if I get one, I’ll try my best to perform well.
What has your work ethic been like since coming back from injury?
After coming back from injury, I’ve been focusing a lot on fitness. I needed recovery time. As for my bowling, I’ve worked mostly on my googly and also on my stock delivery. Alhamdulillah, it’s been going really well. In local cricket, I played one match in a franchise league in Chattogram.
Do you regret not making it to top-tier cricket?
Yes, I do. Maybe I could’ve been in that position too, because I had that capacity — I’ve played well in different places. I had the potential. I was in the HP and A teams for many years. Now it hurts. I still dream of playing for the national team. It hurts, but I still wish to play for Bangladesh. I’m just waiting for an opportunity, and if it comes, I’ll give my best.
From the BPL to now, how do you look back on your journey?
It’s a mix of emotions — hard to explain. The situation then and now is completely different. When memories come back, it really hurts. For example, when I see Rishad playing now, it makes me happy to see him doing well. But at the same time, I think of myself in his place — that’s when the real pain hits.
Do you think leg-spinners are looked down upon?
I didn’t face this issue in Chattogram. But in recognized domestic cricket, I did. In one National League season, I played four matches and took nine wickets. But the next season, I wasn’t even included in the 30-man squad.
Is it just because you’re a leg-spinner?
I think so, being a leg-spinner itself seems to be the problem.
What facilities are available here, such as equipment and practice areas? How do you usually spend your time?
I’m currently working at my old academy, Four H Group. I do some coaching work at the indoor facility of the Bander Stadium. Because I don’t have access to use any BCB grounds.
