Afif amongst the runs in DPL after being dropped from national side

Bangladesh all-rounder batter Afif Hossain missed out on a fifty in Abahani LTD's six-wicket win over rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club on Wednesday, a day after getting dropped from the national side owing to an extended run of poor form with the bat. 

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) did not include Afif in the 14-member squad announced for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Ireland in Chattogram. 

Afif, who has not been amongst runs for the national side lately, was also excluded from the squad for the final ODI against Ireland on Thursday. He was released by the team management to take part in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League, where he scored a 41-ball 49 that featured four boundaries and three sixes. His knock along with Naim Sheikh's century contributed to Abahani's third straight win in the league.

BCB selector Habibul Bashar admitted that Afif's exclusion was indeed due to his lack of runs doubled with the fact that the team management didn't look to include him in the team for the upcoming matches.

Despite this, Bashar assured that the all-rounder is still in contention for the national side and can make his way back by scoring runs and getting back to form by playing in the DPL. 

"Recent form (the reason for Afif's exclusion). His rhythm has fluctuated in recent times. In such cases, we allow players to return to form by scoring runs in domestic cricket. This is why he has been left out. He is one for the future and is always in contention (for the national side)," Bashar told The Daily Star on Wednesday.

"His chance of making it to the eleven was slim which is why he was told to play instead of sitting on the bench. We don't want anyone to miss out on cricket by staying with the national team when we have domestic matches going on. We want them to play which is why we have given Afif the chance to play domestic cricket. We have told him that he can return after performing in the domestic circuit," he added.