The New Six-Hitter Naim

Mohammad Naim was bought for 11 million taka in the last BPL season, making him the most expensive player in the auction. However, that BPL campaign did not turn out to be memorable for him. In contrast, he produced a stormy innings today for Mohammedan in the Dhaka Premier Cricket League.

Naim scored 145 runs off 136 balls, an innings decorated with 12 sixes and 5 fours. Hitting 12 sixes in an innings by a Bangladeshi batter remains a rare feat. Before rain interrupted play at the ULAB Cricket Ground, his bat had already produced a barrage of sixes.

At one point in Bangladesh cricket, Naeem Islam was known as ‘Six-Hitter Naeem’. Even he could not hit 12 sixes in a single List A innings. He is now a national team selector. Mohammad Naim may well claim that identity as the new “Six-Hittter Naim.”

The record for most sixes in a single ODI innings stands at 17, held by England’s Eoin Morgan. Among Bangladeshi batters, the highest is 8 sixes in an ODI innings by Litton Das. He struck 8 sixes during his 176-run innings against Zimbabwe in Sylhet in 2020.

Powered by Naim’s 145 with 12 sixes, Mohammedan posted 345 for 6 against Rupganj Tigers. Yasir Ali scored 69 off 44 balls, Parvez Hossain Emon made 46 off 56 balls, and Towhid Hridoy added 35 off 21 balls.

In reply, Rupganj reached 53 for 5 before rain stopped the match. The remaining action will resume tomorrow, Monday.