PHOTO: STAR

Bangladesh opener Parvez Hossain Emon etched his name on the record books during a Dhaka Premier League (DPL) game yesterday, smashing the fastest-ever fifty by a Bangladeshi player across formats. Emon reached his half-century in just 15 balls, eclipsing the previous record held by Shuvagata Hom, who had struck a 16-ball fifty for Shinepukur Cricket Club in the T20 edition of the DPL in 2019. This time it was Shinepukur who were at the receiving end as Emon’s record-breaking 61 not out off 23 balls helped Abahani chase down a modest 89-run target in only 6.4 overs with 10 wickets in hand. Emon struck four fours and six towering sixes on his way to achieving the feat. The fastest fifty in world cricket, though, was scored in nine balls -- six less than Emon’s -- by Dipendra Singh Airee of Nepal during an Asian Games match against Mongolia in 2023.