He was part of the age level sides alongside Shakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and other national stars of the Bangladesh team. However, Mehedi Hasan Siddique, also known as Mehedi Maruf, somehow lost his way in the middle with his fellow Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan teammates Shakib and Mushfiq going on to represent the country just after the 2006 U-19 World Cup where Mehedi also participated.
Mehedi though remained committed and continued to push his limits as the right-handed top-order batsman mostly opened the innings during his age-level phase and also in the domestic circuit.
His friends may have become experienced campaigners in the international circuit but the 29-year old was not able to make his international debut. With that said, Mehedi by this time has now become one of the prominent and consistent performers in the domestic circuit across all three formats.
The right-hander was the fourth highest run-getter in the recently concluded Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2016-17 season with 630 runs at an average of 45, including two hundreds and as many fifties.
He also scored heavily in the National Cricket League, the first-class longer-version competition of the country, but it was in the fourth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League T20 tournament for Dhaka Dynamites which really brought him to the limelight. He was the sixth highest run-scorer of the tournament with 347 runs at a staggering strike rate of 135.54, including two fifties.
Mehedi was instrumental behind Dhaka's title win with his explosive batting while opening the innings. He was later part of the Bangladesh team which toured New Zealand last year as he finally got the feeling of being in the national team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1-ea4FlNxs
He will be touring Australia on Saturday with the High Performance Squad and according to the 29-year old, he is not taking the pressure of only playing for the national team. Rather, he is looking to improve his game.
“To be honest, I used to take a lot of pressure earlier that I have to play for the national team as a few of my BKSP mates were called into the Bangladesh team. But recently, I have spoken with [Nazmul Abedeen] Fahim Sir. And after that, I am only focusing on my game rather than taking any extra pressure of playing for the national team, which has helped me immensely,” Mehedi told Dhaka Tribune before departing for Australia with the HP squad on Friday.
“I was part of the Bangladesh team which toured New Zealand and realised there that I also need a little bit of luck to represent my country, which is ultimately not in my hand. So I am only focusing on the things which are in my control,” he said.
He added that the year 2017 will be very crucial for him and that he is looking forward to utilising the upcoming Australia tour.
“I think I have matured a lot in the past three-four years as I have started to understand my game. Previously I had no idea what I was doing in the middle. I have started to learn a lot and the results are also visible. The Australia tour will be very crucial for me to continue what I was doing. I think my maturity makes me a better batsman and I think I am ready to play anywhere as I have the experience behind me,” he said.
Meanwhile, the tag of an explosive batsman has overshadowed the overall ability of the right-hander to play big knocks. He informed that he is capable of playing big innings while the hard-hitting ability is just one of his many strengths.
“Well I think it started after the BPL last season where I struck a few quick knocks and big sixes. But I think I have the ability to play big innings as I try to play according to the situation. But yes, I think this is one of my advantages which most of the batsmen lack and I think I try to utilise this whenever I get the opportunity,” said Mehedi.
The right-hander was the fourth highest run-getter in the recently concluded Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2016-17 season with 630 runs at an average of 45, including two hundreds and as many fifties.
He also scored heavily in the National Cricket League, the first-class longer-version competition of the country, but it was in the fourth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League T20 tournament for Dhaka Dynamites which really brought him to the limelight. He was the sixth highest run-scorer of the tournament with 347 runs at a staggering strike rate of 135.54, including two fifties.
Mehedi was instrumental behind Dhaka's title win with his explosive batting while opening the innings. He was later part of the Bangladesh team which toured New Zealand last year as he finally got the feeling of being in the national team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1-ea4FlNxs
He will be touring Australia on Saturday with the High Performance Squad and according to the 29-year old, he is not taking the pressure of only playing for the national team. Rather, he is looking to improve his game.
“To be honest, I used to take a lot of pressure earlier that I have to play for the national team as a few of my BKSP mates were called into the Bangladesh team. But recently, I have spoken with [Nazmul Abedeen] Fahim Sir. And after that, I am only focusing on my game rather than taking any extra pressure of playing for the national team, which has helped me immensely,” Mehedi told Dhaka Tribune before departing for Australia with the HP squad on Friday.