(UTV | BANGLADESH) – Afif Hossain, the Bangladesh all-rounder, said that he doesn’t regret missing out on the opportunity of scoring his maiden ODI century.
Afif Hossain, the Bangladesh all-rounder, said that he doesn’t regret missing out on the opportunity of scoring his maiden ODI century after getting dismissed on 72 in the second One-Day International against South Africa at the Wanderers. The in-form batter stood out with his knock while the rest of the line-up crumbled against Kagiso Rabada, who returned a fifer.
Afif was dismissed for a 107-ball 72, which included nine boundaries. His decision to attack the on-fire Rabada instead of playing him out backfired as he miscued a heave off South Africa’s premier pacer and became the eighth batsman to be dismissed in the innings.
His knock didn’t help the team as South Africa registered a seven-wicket win and levelled the three-match series 1-1. However, the 22-year-old maintained that his focus is on trying to bat according to the situation and will continue with a similar approach in the comings game.
“I don’t have any regret (missing out a century),” Afif told reporters on Monday. “I always try to bat according to the situation and I am fine with whatever I achieve. In future, if I get a similar chance, I would try to do well.”
Afif said that he tries to keep his game plan simple and does not want to move away from his batting philosophy irrespective of the situation. “There is no big mystery behind it staying calm and composed and the only thing is that I always try to remain the same and try to bat in the same manner whatever the situation is,” said Afif.
“I don’t have a lot of things going around in my head when I go to bat and there is no mental pressure as such rather I try to follow a simple plan. I try to focus on my batting plan and it remains the same whether we lose five wickets or we are one or two wickets down. I like to bat in the same manner,” he said, adding that seniors like Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal are helping him understand how to handle pressure.
“Everyone is very supportive and whenever I am having a problem, they try to help me and whenever I am in trouble during a match or practise, I discuss with them.”
Afif is being honed to play the role of a finisher in the Bangladesh team and skipper Tamim Iqbal says that he is impressed with the way the youngster has adjusted to the demands of batting at number seven and added that the team isn’t keen to promote him higher in the batting order.
Bangladesh will take on South Africa in the series-deciding third game at Centurion on March 23.