Shahriar Nafees took another step towards a return to the Test team when he struck 115 against the GP-BCB National Cricket Academy on Sunday.
The two-day match was marred by rain yesterday with only nine overs of the Academy side’s innings possible (33 for one) but on Day One, it was Nafees who stood out with a typically phlegmatic knock.
After Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and elected to bat first, the national side made 388 for 7 in 90 overs.
Nafees struck 17 boundaries and three sixes during his 168-ball knock.
“The innings felt good and it is always great to score big,” said Nafees.
“Whether I will get back in the Test team entirely depends on the selectors and team management. I have fulfilled my part of the work so I’m happy. There is more bounce in Zimbabwe wickets though the nature is generally similar to ours. Like everyone else, I’m also working on the back foot shots in the indoors,” added the man who last played a Test match in January 2010, against India.
Apart from Nafees, Mohammad Ashraful struck 77 while Mahmudullah Riyad blasted a 78-ball 75 with eight fours and three sixes.
It was an encouraging sign from Ashraful, who returned to the national team after being cast aside for the series against Australia in April.
For the Academy side, off-spinner Mahmudul Hasan took four wickets while Mukhtar Ali, Sanzamul Islam and Soumya Sarkar picked up one each.
-With The Daily Star input
