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Chance again for Kapali

Aftab ruled out, needs surgery

Sports Reporter
Alok Kapali was recalled to the national side nearly after two years for the upcoming tri-series at home and the Asia Cup in Pakistan as a replacement of middle-order batsman Aftab Ahmed, who has been ruled out for six weeks due to a finger injury.
Aftab suffered the injury during practice on Saturday, which resulted in a dislocation and fracture of one of the bones in his finger, and the X-ray report finally confirmed that he has a comminuted fracture of the right ring finger.
The Chittagonian has been advised rest of around six weeks and will need to be surgically repaired immediately.
"As per the board's medical committee and national team physio (Darrayn Lifson), Aftab will need a surgery within twenty four hours otherwise it could be career threatening for him as there is a vacuum in his finger," informed chief selector Rafiqul Alam yesterday.
There was, however, hardly any possibility to send the Tigers batsman abroad for operation.
"We have yet to take any decision but we will definitely prefer doing it at home if it is possible. And the time is also a factor as he needs immediate surgery," said Ahmed Sajjadul Alam. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)'s media committee chairman.
The announcement came in the evening but it looked certain that Kapali would make the team for the upcoming international assignments when the right-hander from Sylhet was called up to join practice in the morning at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
There was no other choice for the selectors as the stylish righthander was included in the reserve bench for both tournaments as well as part of the A team for tours of Ireland and England.
The Rafiq-led selection panel, however, initially did not consider Alok as a replacement of Shakib Al Hasan by citing his long absence from international cricket.
"In current situation he is the best choice as he has international experience behind him and played some good cricket in the domestic competitions. Most importantly, Alok is a suitable candidate for the position of Aftab," Rafiq defended their decision.
Alok Kapali is an enigma in
Bangladesh cricket as the talented batsman-cum-leg -spinner, who became the first Bangladesh bowler to take a hattrick in lest cricket against Pakistan in Peshawar in 2003, never justified his sheer potential whenever the opportunity came his way.
His unbeaten 89 against West Indies in 2002 is still considered as one of the best one-day innings a Bangladeshi batsman but the 24-year-old, who played his last international match against Zimbabwe at Harare on August 2006, stuck agonisingly below an average of twenty in 17Tests and 55 GDIs.
But now another opportunity has come to the talented player to cement his place in the side but the question is: Can he do it this time?
"Yes, it's an opportunity for me though no one wants to come back in such a way because I know how painful it is to be ruled out from the team for injury. I will try my best to keep my place in the national side," promised Alok.
He also said that he became a bit upset when the selectors ignored him in the first time as he believes that his performance in the domestic competitions has been commendable.
"I expected a recall in the first time because I have had a good
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| performance in the National League and the Premier League. However, I accepted it and mentally prepared to come back to the national side after playing good cricket with the A team," he explained.
But the question is how good his performance in the domestic circuit is, for which he deserved a place in the national side? Alok's average was just above 34 in the National and Premier Cricket League, which definitely does not look something special.
Alok agrees.
"If one can manage 60 average in domestic competition then he would be able to make it 30 in international level," he admitted.