Zakir Hasan

Just like a sturdy opening batter weathering the early swing, Zakir Hasan began life in the scenic city of Sylhet. Raised in a modest household, his early fascination with cricket quickly transformed into passion. Encouraged by his family and guided by local mentors, Zakir enrolled in the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) in 2012—Bangladesh’s most elite sports institute. It was here that he developed his cricketing footwork alongside his academic journey, eventually earning an MBA from Sylhet Metropolitan University, balancing books and bats with admirable poise.

Before he walked into stadiums packed with fans, Zakir was busy building his base on dusty school grounds and BKSP nets. He progressed through Bangladesh’s U14, U16, and U19 systems, each level adding another layer to his technique and temperament. 

His breakthrough came during the 2016 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where he made headlines with a match-defining 75 against Nepal U19. Batting at No. 5, he stitched a 117-run stand with skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz to guide Bangladesh into the semis, ultimately helping the team clinch a historic third-place finish. 

Zakir's first-class career began with a steady forward defensive for Sylhet Division in the 2015–16 National Cricket League, debuting on September 18, 2015. Over the next few years, his bat talked louder than his words. 

His defining knock came in January 2018 for East Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League, where he recorded his maiden double-century—211 runs against Central Zone. As of April 2025, Zakir has played 65 first-class matches, amassing over 5,000 runs, including 15 centuries and 20 half-centuries at an average just under 44—a record that puts him in the league of future greats.

The shortest format welcomed Zakir with a full toss that he smashed over midwicket—figuratively speaking. He made his T20 debut in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for Chittagong Vikings on 8 November 2016.

Since then, he has donned multiple franchise jerseys with flair. From Rajshahi Kings to Rangpur Rangers, Gemcon Khulna, and more recently, the Sylhet Strikers, Zakir has carved a space as a flexible top-order batter and sharp gloveman. 

Like a batter preparing for a long 50-over innings, Zakir Hasan took his time to build a solid platform in List A cricket. He made his debut on April 18, 2017, representing Partex Sporting Club in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. From that point onward, he embraced the format with the temperament of a classic one-day batter. 

The Test arena often separates the prodigies from the professionals, and Zakir Hasan embraced the whites like a seasoned opener facing his first morning session. 

On 14 December 2022, he made his Test debut against India in Chattogram. Under immense pressure, Zakir counterattacked with a gritty 100 in the second innings, becoming only the fourth Bangladeshi to score a century on Test debut and the first opener from Bangladesh to do so. 

Zakir’s white-ball career has been like a cautious middle-overs phase—slow, probing, and still finding rhythm. He debuted in T20Is against Sri Lanka on 15 February 2018, but only played 4 T20Is, scoring 11 runs. A prolonged gap followed until his ODI debut against New Zealand on 26 September 2023. He has since played just 2 ODIs, making 5 runs. With limited chances and stiff competition for wicket-keeping roles, Zakir has yet to plant his flag firmly in Bangladesh’s limited-overs plans.

Every cricketer faces a tough spell, and Zakir has had his share. Despite a golden debut in Tests, he struggled to cement his place due to injuries and the revolving door of competition in Bangladesh’s top order. With the likes of Litton Das, Nurul Hasan, and Mushfiqur Rahim in contention, Zakir often found himself on the sidelines. Additionally, a thumb injury in late 2023 temporarily halted his upward trajectory, forcing him out of crucial domestic and international fixtures. Yet, true to his character, Zakir returned through the domestic circuit, racking up runs to make selectors think twice.

In the 2024-25 season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Zakir Hasan delivered standout performances for the Sylhet Strikers. He played a pivotal role in securing consecutive victories for his team. Notably, Zakir scored an unbeaten 75 runs off 46 balls in a match against the Khulna Tigers, an innings that included three boundaries and six sixes. This followed a rapid 58 off 27 balls in the preceding game, marking his third 50-plus score in five innings during the tournament.

Zakir is still young, battle-tested through domestic circuits, and equipped with both the technique and temperament to script comebacks. With refinement, resilience, and rhythm, he remains one of Bangladesh’s most promising multi-format prospects—knocking, once again, on the selectors’ door with both willow and willpower.

(As of April 2025)