Naim, Mahfijul hit double ton in NCL to boost nat'l team case

Dhaka, 25 Oct - Naim Sheikh and Mahfjul Islam Robin, the two potential opening options for Bangladesh struck double centuries in the National Cricket League (NCL) at the same day, bolstering their cases for consideration ahead of the first Test against the West Indies.

Naim scored 282 for Dhaka against Rajshahi at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, while Mahfizul Islam remained unbeaten on 217 for Mymensingh against Chittagong in Bogra district.

The performances came after chief selector Habibul Bashar named a 15-member squad for the first Test featuring only two specialist openers, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Shadman Islam. 

Bashar had indicated that other candidates would be assessed through their performances in the NCL.

Naim resumed the second day on 171 not out and went on to score 282, surpassing his previous career-best first-class score of 180. He faced 369 deliveries, hitting 21 fours and seven sixes before being caught at cover off spinner Rahim Ahmed.

Mahfijul, who had finished the opening day unbeaten on 156, extended his innings to 217 not out as Mymensingh declared at 465-7 at Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra. The 22-year-old struck 20 fours and two sixes in his 351-ball innings.

Mahfijul had recently featured for the BCB XI in a two-day warm-up match against the West Indies but managed only 4 runs.BSS