Mirpur National Cricket Academy Ground rarely sleeps. On most days, someone is either running drills or batting in the nets. But following the long Eid-ul-Fitr break, it was expected to be quiet, with only a few ground staff going about their routine duties.
Yet, on a calm afternoon, Shamim Hossain Patwari was spotted in the nets, working with a new bat against side-arm throws. The crisp sound of the ball meeting the middle of his bat echoed around the otherwise silent NCA ground for nearly an hour and a half on a concrete wicket.
After finishing his session, the left-handed middle-order batter explained why he chose to train alone. “Just preparing myself a bit, because matches are coming up. So it’s about getting myself ready gradually, whether it’s fitness or batting. Then we have a camp coming up tomorrow, so I try to prepare myself as much as possible for that”, he told Times of Bangladesh, with the New Zealand series around the corner clearly on his mind.
New Zealand are scheduled to play a three-match ODI and T20 series in April, and Shamim is focused on regaining his rhythm ahead of that assignment. However, the explosive batter is currently out of the ODI setup following the Sri Lanka series and has limited opportunities to push for a comeback.
Bangladesh’s prime List A competition, the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, remains uncertain as club owners continue their dispute with the current BCB administration following the last board election.
There is a strong possibility that this season’s DPL may not take place. Asked how the situation feels from a player’s perspective, Shamim did not hold back. “Honestly, it feels a bit ridiculous. A country like ours not having a Premier League, how does that look? We are going to play the ODI World Cup in 2027, right?”
Shamim emphasized that the DPL is crucial not only for national players but also for those outside the national setup. “This is not just about national team players, for those outside the national team it’s a huge financial loss. It’s a loss for everyone. I think this is not good for Bangladesh cricket. So as soon as possible, things should be properly organized”, the Under-19 World Cup-winning batter said, highlighting the broader impact.
Having played seven ODIs so far, Shamim is eager to reclaim his place in the format. But with no List A cricket on the immediate horizon, he is now turning his attention to T20 cricket as a pathway back.
When asked how he plans to prove himself worthy of an ODI recall, Shamim made his approach clear. “If the DPL had taken place, it would have been a good option to make a comeback through that. Since the chances of it happening are low, there’s no point thinking about it now. I have a T20 series against New Zealand ahead, so my focus will be on performing there and trying to return to the ODI team through that.”
On using T20 performances as a route back into the ODI side, Shamim was pragmatic. “I’m already in the T20 team, so I don’t really have another option.”
