Dhaka: Pakistan young pacer Akif Javed, who is trying to make his case stronger for the national team selection, believes playing in the favorable wicket in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) would enhance his skill further. Akif, who is playing for Rangpur Riders in this BPL, said if he can be disciplined and put the ball in the right areas, success will come regardless of the behavior of the wicket.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Akif emphasized discipline in bowling as a key to his current success. “I tried to be disciplined as much as I can when I bowl. I knew that the batters would get enough support from here (BPL) but I tried to put the ball in the right areas to make their task tougher,” he shared in an exclusive conversation. With 15 wickets in seven matches, Akif stands second in the bowling chart behind Taskin Ahmed. His accuracy has not only fetched him wickets but also helped his team by applying pressure on the opponents, giving other bowlers an edge to capitalize on.
The young left-arm fast bowler’s disciplined approach is reflected in his economy rate of just 6.5 per over on a wicket where team scores often reach around 200. Akif expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “I have been performing well Alhamdulillah. As I said earlier, I tried to be disciplined in every way. When you will be disciplined, you will get the success. That’s the mantra of my life.”
Born in 2000, Akif was selected for the Balochistan squad for the 2019-20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. He made his T20 debut for Balochistan in the National T20 Cup the same year and soon after, made his first-class debut. His consistent performances led to his selection in the Pakistan squad for the 2019 ACC Emerging Asia Cup in Bangladesh. Akif made his List A debut for Pakistan in the Emerging Teams Cup against Afghanistan in November 2019. In October 2021, he was named in the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, having played 23 first-class matches, 30 List A, and 63 T20s.
Recently, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt endorsed Akif, describing him as ready for the national team. According to Salman, Akif is accurate, fast, and maintains a good line and length, which facilitates regular wicket-taking. Salman highlighted the need for Akif’s inclusion due to other bowlers’ unfitness. Akif responded gratefully, stating that while national team selection is beyond his control, he hopes consistent performance will earn him a call-up.
Akif regards the BPL as a valuable platform to refine his bowling skills further, especially given the batter-friendly pitches. “The Sylhet phase was very tough. The wicket was prepared for the batters. But when you would bowl well, you will get wickets,” he stated. Akif expressed appreciation for the support he has received from the BPL crowd, saying it feels like playing in Pakistan due to the passionate backing from fans. “BPL’s crowd presence is excellent. They are very passionate about cricket. They support all players. What I saw is that they got behind the team, which played really well. I got huge love from them. It seems to me that I am playing in Pakistan.”