Amite experiment comes at Sylhet's expense

Amite Hasan has emerged at the centre of Bangladesh's latest experiment to find a right-handed Test opener. With the National Cricket League (NCL) season approaching, the 25-year-old batter is being assessed at the top of the order.

The right-hander has never opened in first-class cricket, having previously batted at No. 4 while scoring 440 and 785 runs in the last two NCL seasons. Selectors could give him five matches of the seven-game season in his new position.

For the national team, the trial addresses ongoing concerns over the Test opening combination. Tanzid Hasan Tamim recently struck a hundred in Darwin but remains relatively new, while Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan and Mahmudul Hasan Joy have struggled for consistency.

The positional shift is striking because Amite was also viewed as a long-term middle-order option after Mushfiqur Rahim's eventual departure. He made his Test debut in Zimbabwe in June, toured Australia without playing and was left out of the Afghanistan Test squad.

While the national selectors view the NCL as an audition, Sylhet are paying the price for the transition. Sylhet won their maiden title in 2024-25 and finished runners-up the following season, but they are now struggling to assemble even a 15-member squad for the campaign beginning October 3.

Sylhet head coach Rajin Saleh admitted the team's predicament to The Daily Star, stating: 'We are struggling at the moment with our middle-order batting and pace bowling. We are in a very weak position right now.'

The pace attack has suffered major setbacks as Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Rejaur Rahman Raja are out for the season with injuries. Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain will miss matches due to national commitments, Abu Jayed Rahi is playing in the UAE, and Iqbal Hossain Emon is travelling there as a reserve.

With Amite and Zakir Hasan likely to open, Sylhet must rely on Asadulla Al Galib, Shykat Ali and Mubin Ahmed Dishan in the middle order. Tawfique Khan Tushar failed the NCL fitness test, while Mushfiqur Rahim and Jaker Ali are expected only in the third round.

Selector Naeem explained that the move was made purely in the national interest. 'So if he fails there, no problem. He will move back to his original position,' Naeem told The Daily Star.