An emerging talent not too long ago, Jaker Ali Anik, a wicketkeeper-batter, has witnessed a swift ascent and decline within a year. His absence in all three ODIs against the West Indies in Mirpur was followed by being left out of the recent opening T20I in Chattogram. This exclusion did not come as a surprise to many, considering his recent lackluster performance, restricted shot selection, and struggles to hit boundaries in the crucial slog overs – weaknesses that have come under increasing scrutiny.
Critics argued that Jaker should have been dropped from Bangladesh’s prior T20I series versus Afghanistan. However, team management opted to entrust the 27-year-old with the captaincy in the absence of regular skipper Litton Das, who was sidelined due to a side strain injury – a decision that continued from the Asia Cup. Ironically, Jaker lost his spot in the same match that marked the return of the regular skipper.
Jaker’s international journey commenced at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, but it was his explosive 68 off 34 balls against Sri Lanka in March 2024, including six massive sixes, that signaled his breakthrough. Subsequent strong performances in the Zimbabwe T20Is secured him a berth in Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup squad later that year.
His success extended to the longer formats as well. In Tests, Jaker made a mark with a fifty on debut against South Africa in Chattogram, followed by a critical 91 in Kingston during Bangladesh’s historic victory over the West Indies. His ODI introduction was equally promising, with an unbeaten 37 on debut against Sri Lanka and subsequent scores of 48 and 62 not out in the Caribbean, despite Bangladesh’s losses in both matches.
However, his form has dwindled since then. Jaker has gone four ODIs without a fifty, registered single-digit scores in his last three Test innings, and failed to reach double figures in four of his last six T20I innings.
With Bangladesh gearing up to host Ireland for a two-match Test series next month, and with Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim back in action, alongside Mahidul Islam Ankon vying for a spot, Jaker now confronts a tough challenge to regain his position.