Rajin Saleh
Youngest One Day International captain:
Rajin Saleh
Rajin Saleh |
Full name: Khondokar Mohammad Rajin Saleh Alam
Born: November 20, 1983, Sylhet, Bangladesh
Current age: 27 years
Major teams: Bangladesh, Bangladesh A, Sylhet Division
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm offbreak
Test début: Pakistan v Bangladesh at Karachi, August 20-24, 2003
ODI début: Pakistan v Bangladesh at Multan, September 9, 2003
First-class début: 2000/01
Rajin Saleh is one of the most talented batsmen in Bangladesh and, as
a man who takes pride in his physical fitness as well, he has also
become a favourite of his coach, Dav Whatmore.
Saleh, a No. 3 batsman on the domestic circuit, first attracted
attention when he averaged 56 in the National League in 2000-01. He had
played only five matches for Sylhet when he was included in the
Bangladesh Cricket Board XI which took on the Australian Cricket Academy
the following year, but made 81 in the first match, a knock which drew
high praise from the Aussie press.
Technically sound, Saleh is equally solid forward or back, and has
rapidly become a mainstay in the Bangladesh batting line-up. And before
he had turned 21 he was elevated to the captaincy for the Champions
Trophy in England in 2004, after Habibul Bashar broke his thumb.
Back in the ranks, he cracked 89 in the historic victory over
Zimbabwe at Chittagong early in 2005, but lost his place after making
only 2 and 7 against England at Chester-le-Street. An undefeated 108
against Kenya at Fatullah in March 2006 - on the 35th anniversary of
Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan - forced Saleh back into the
Test reckoning, and he distinguished himself with innings of 67, 33 and
71 against the Australians.
As a result of several ordinary one-day performances, Saleh played
just one match in the Champions Trophy in October and hasn’t played an
ODI since. However, when Bangladesh named their 15 for the World Cup in
the West Indies, Saleh’s name was on the list.
CRICINFO |