Hassan Eisakhil’s match-winning knock for Noakhali Express in the Bangladesh Premier League came with a slice of history, as he batted alongside his father, Mohammad Nabi, to become the first father-son duo to share the crease in a top-tier T20 league.
Eisakhil scored a brilliant 92 against Dhaka Capitals in Sylhet on Sunday, marking his first appearance in an overseas franchise tournament.
The 20-year-old, who made his competitive debut three years ago, was handed an opportunity after Noakhali made wholesale changes following six straight defeats. Eisakhil was the 20th player used by the franchise this season and made an immediate impact.
Before the toss, Nabi presented his son with the Noakhali cap in an emotional moment.
Eisakhil then justified the faith shown in him with a composed and aggressive innings, hitting seven fours and five sixes during his 60-ball stay.
He first added 101 runs for the opening stand with Soumya Sarkar before stitching a 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket with his father.
There were clear similarities between Eisakhil’s batting style and that of Nabi. Like his father, he held the bat low and adopted a relaxed stance at the crease.
His preference for driving on the up stood out, though he began his innings with crisp square cuts and flicks. His powerful pull shots also reminded many of Nabi’s trademark strokeplay.
The historic moment arrived in the 14th over when Nabi walked out to join his son. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nabi’s long-time Afghanistan teammate who now plays for Dhaka, ensured the pair shared a hug in the middle.
Nabi largely played second fiddle as Eisakhil dominated the partnership. The youngster was also seen constantly communicating with his father, explaining what he was reading from the bowler’s hand and how he executed certain shots, especially his straight sixes.
Nabi contributed 17 off 13 balls before being dismissed by Abdullah Al Mamun. Eisakhil followed him soon after, falling to Mohammad Saifuddin in the next over.
Nabi has already faced his son in competitive cricket, having played six matches against him. A video clip of Eisakhil hitting Nabi for a six during one such game went viral last year.
The duo have also spent considerable time training together during the BPL. Nabi joined the Noakhali camp late but made it a point to work closely with his son in the nets, offering throwdowns and bowling to him regularly.
There was also a touching moment when Eisakhil helped his father pack his kit after a training session.
Source: India Today
--Agencies
