Alok Kapali Must Feature Regularly In The ODI and T20 Team Against The West Indies

So, at last, after much ignorance the selectors have beensoft. They have included the experienced Alok Kapali for the T20 and ODI seriesagainst the West Indies. Since his return from the controversialICL, Kapali was never seen in Bangladeshcricket. But his performance has been better than many players playing in thecurrent squad in the domestic arena.

Alok Kapali is Bangladesh’serratic but talented legspinner and a batsman with undoubted potential. Sincehis debut against Sri Lankain 2002, he impressed everyone with his immense talent. That series against Sri Lanka had been disappointing for Bangladeshbut the positive for Bangladeshhad been Kapali’s technique and temperament. Kapali then started batting atnumber five and six for Bangladeshand he continued to show outstanding boldness against fast bowling. As alegspinner Kapali might not be huge turner of the ball but had been the stockbowler for the Tigers and still the only bowler for Bangladeshto snatch a Test hattrick. In limited overs cricket Kapali had been clinical.Especially with the bat, Kapali had been instrumental in both scoring quickruns or playing as the sheet anchor role.

But the ICL saga scripted a dark era in Kapali’s career. He wasbanned for ten years. After one season, he quit the ICL and made himselfavailable for selection again and started performing well in domestic cricketbut fate and the selectors has been unfair with him. 

But the wait is over. The Bangladeshis will again find theglimpses of Kapali’s talent in the upcoming ODI series against West Indies.

A player of such merit and potential deserve a place withoutany hesitations. But the Bangladeshi selectors have been very rude towards him.The selectors had their eye focused on low quality performers like RaqibulIslam and Mohammad Ashraful but they seemed to have lost their mind and visionwhile focusing on Kapali.

Mohammad Ashraful still gets selected bearing the tag ofbeing talented and if that is the case then why not Kapali too also beselected? Ashraful is talented but they hardly turned into deeds, while Kapalidid rip good results either with the bat or ball. I believe Kapali could havebeen ideal at number four or five spot as a middle-order batsman. Sadly, theselectors couldn’t realize this.

Though being selected in the squad will Kapali get selectedin the first XI? This the moot question.

Ashraful still might be the selectors’ first choice in themiddle-order but I would back Kapali instead of Ashraful to bat at number fourposition in the limited over versions against the West Indies.As a batsman Kapali bears better temperament then Ashraful and above all hisleggies can make West Indies suffer as the West Indiansare never known to be good against the legspinners.

The selectors have made it right by selecting Kapali in theODI and T20 squad against West Indies. Now it’s time tomake the decision harvest good results and this can only happen if Kapalifeatures regularly in all the ODIs and the only T20 match as a player in thefirst XI.

It’s hopeful that Kapali will deliver the best for Bangladeshagainst West Indies in the ODIs and T20.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar