Jaker Ali’s composed fifty rescued Bangladesh from a humiliating collapse in the third T20I against Pakistan on 22 July, as the wicketkeeper-batter once again showed his faith in the tail.
Bangladesh clinched an 8-run victory over Pakistan in the second T20I despite posting just 133 runs, a total that eventually proved enough thanks to a composed and match-winning innings from Jaker Ali, who was named Player of the Match.
This wasn’t unfamiliar territory for Jaker, who has often found himself in damage-control mode in his career. Speaking at the post match press – conference, he said the habit of batting with the lower order began in his youth days.
“I have a hundred in age-level cricket where I had a 71-run stand with a tail-ender,” said Jaker. “Since my U-17 and U-19 days, I’ve had that habit. Whoever is with me at the other end, I treat them as a proper batter.”
The right-hander walked in during the sixth over and stayed until the final ball, scoring a fighting fifty that included a pair of sixes in the final over bowled by Abbas Afridi. The second six brought up his third T20I fifty one that fell just short of delivering the team target set by skipper Litton Das.
With the top order back in the hut, Bangladesh revised their ambitions. “On this pitch, I felt that if we batted properly, we could’ve reached 150–160,” said Jaker. “But when I came in, we’d already lost several wickets. Litton told me to aim for 140. In the end, we fell just six short. If the last ball had gone for six, we would’ve hit that.”
Jaker’s 53-run stand with Sheikh Mahedi Hasan was central to Bangladesh’s recovery, lasting nearly eight overs. Mahedi’s proactive approach impressed Jaker, who made sure he held the innings together from his end.
“The way Mehadi attacked, it was very important. I was telling myself not to get carried away and to play my role calmly,” he said.
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson had earlier criticised the nature of the Sher-e-Bangla surface after the first T20I, and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf echoed similar concerns following the second.
“I’ve played the last two BPL seasons here,” Faheem noted. “Those matches are held in December and January, when there’s no rain. The pitches are much better. You don’t see double bounce or the ball gripping this much.”
Jaker, however, believes the challenging conditions are something Bangladesh can use to their advantage.
“We know this isn’t a high-scoring pitch. You have to play smartly here,” he said. “If we were playing in Sylhet, this approach wouldn’t work.”
Despite usually batting lower down, Jaker said he was mentally prepared to come in early and steady the innings, a role he’s embraced in domestic cricket as well.
“I was ready for that situation,” he said. “I’m used to batting up the order. I’ve batted at No. 5 before and done so in the Premier League as well. It wasn’t difficult for me to adjust.”
Though his half-century was vital, Jaker refused to celebrate it in isolation.
“An innings is only valuable if the team wins. Otherwise, even a fifty doesn’t matter. If it doesn’t help the team win, it’s meaningless,” he said.
With the series secured at 2–0, Jaker said the team’s focus now shifts to completing a 3–0 whitewash. He also offered condolences to the victims of the recent plane crash in Uttara, praying for the departed souls and wishing a quick recovery for those injured.