Sylhet’s young batter Mubin Ahmed Dishan remembers a simple beginning. Cricket was something his brothers played. He was just the boy who followed them to the ground. That was where the love began, not from ambition, but from watching them bat and bowl.
A few days ago, Dishan scored his maiden first class century against Rangpur Division in Cox’s Bazar International Cricket Stadium. For a cricketer who has just stepped into the professional structure, the innings carries weight and promise. “The century is very special,” he told Daily Times of Bangladesh. “I am still new to first class cricket. I wanted to score a hundred and I am happy I could do it.”
Dishan who was once part of Bangladesh current u-19 men’s set up, now dropped, speaks softly, almost shyly, but there is clarity in his cricketing mindset when asked about his 262 balls marathon innings. He said, “I do not think much. I just try to play ball to ball. That is it.”
What stands out in Dishan’s batting is the smooth pull shot, the steady head, the clean follow through. People often draw similarities with Shubman Gill. Dishan does not hide the admiration.
“Everyone says that,” he smiled. “And yes, I enjoy it. Shubman Gill is the best batsman in the world. I like how he times the ball.” He even wears jersey number 77, just like his idol. “I followed his jersey number. I watched him before. That is why I chose 77.”
Now he finds himself sharing dressing rooms with players he once idolised from afar. “It is a big thing. They support me a lot. Mushfiq bhai is very friendly. I enjoy playing with him. I get to play with my childhood heroes. What more can I ask for?”
A major part of Dishan’s rise can be traced back to the trust of Sylhet Division coach and former Bangladesh captain Rajin Saleh. Rajin saw something early in the young batter.
“I think he is capable of playing first class cricket,” Rajin told Daily Times of Bangladesh. “I think he has the ability to play first class cricket. He can play Test cricket. I think he has that ability. That is why we picked him. We played with him last year.”
Rajin still remembers the impact innings that convinced him. “He scored 45 in a match and then scored 65 to make us win in last season of the NCL,” he said.
For Rajin, the talent is undeniable, but the timing needs patience. “I think he is able to play international cricket. But not now. He is slowly getting ready. If he does not get tired, if we nurture him and if he performs consistently, if he can get called to the HP camp, I think he can get ready for that.”
Dishan feels that support deeply. Before the century hitting innings, he scored just 1. Then he was confused and tense. Rajin noticed and called him for a quick chat. “He told me there was no problem, that I should play freely and play normally. After that my confidence returned.”
For now, Dishan remains grounded, carrying the calm of someone who knows he is only at the beginning. His first class hundred is not a destination. It is an early sign, a small promise of what might come if he keeps walking the path that started years ago, when he simply followed his brothers to the field.
Sylhet has built a reputation for producing fast bowlers in recent years, with names like Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Rejaur Rahman Raja emerging as regular performers. But the region has long struggled to produce homegrown batters. Aside from Amite Hasan, who has become a familiar name in domestic cricket, the options remain thin. In that landscape, Mubin Ahmed Dishan is beginning to look like a new beacon of hope for Sylhet’s batting department.
When asked whether Dishan could help fill that long standing void, Sylhet Division coach and former national captain Rajin Saleh said the young batter has the potential to go even further.
“We have been struggling for the past six or seven years and we are not getting our batsmen,” Rajin said. “To be honest, Jaker Ali came from BKSP. We did not get a ready player from Sylhet.”
Rajin believes Dishan represents a positive shift. “Dishan is a positive sign for us. We are also getting new players. There is a new batter, Rifat, who bats at number six. If they settle here, they will dominate for Sylhet Division. Then I think, for the next five to seven years, Sylhet Division will be in a good place.”
Dishan who has only played 6 first class matches was reminded of the opportunity he now carries for his region. He listened quietly, then smiled. “Of course, it will definitely be inspiring for us,” he said. “I do not know what to say. It is very inspiring for me.”
