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Mohammad Naim Admits Mental Unreadiness to Bat at Number Four Against Sri Lanka
Naim Reflects on Surprise Role in T20I Series Opener
Bangladesh left-handed batter Mohammad Naim Sheikh has opened up about his unexpected promotion to number four in the batting order during the first T20I against Sri Lanka, admitting he was not mentally prepared for the middle-order responsibility.
Returning to international cricket after a two-year absence, Naim rejoined the national setup on the back of consistent domestic performances. Although he did not feature in any of the three ODIs during the white-ball series, he was given a surprise chance in the first T20I due to Jaker Ali’s injury.
Speaking to reporters after a personal training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Naim candidly revealed that the late change in role caught him off guard.
Unexpected Batting Position Disrupts Naim’s Rhythm
“I wasn’t even supposed to play initially,” said Naim. “When Jaker got injured, I had to move up the order and bat at number four instead of my expected position at five. That decision came after consultation with the coach.”
Although he remained unbeaten on 32 off 29 balls, Naim’s discomfort at the unfamiliar position was evident.
“To be honest, I wasn’t mentally prepared for that. I have always trained and prepared as an opener. It was a completely different experience being pushed into the middle order without prior preparation,” he added.
This was Naim’s first appearance in international cricket since 2022, and the left-hander was eager to make an impact. However, the surprise role shift tested his adaptability.
Naim’s Reflections on Middle-Order Experience
Having batted almost exclusively at the top throughout his career, Naim elaborated on how different the mindset and approach are when batting in the middle order.
“When you’re coming in at four, the dynamics change completely. You don’t have the freedom of the powerplay. You face different challenges — it’s a totally different zone,” he explained.
“I’m always prepared to open, and all my recent training has been focused on how I’ll maximize opportunities if I get to open. Still, if I have to bat in the middle order again, I’ll have that on my mind.”
For more insight into Bangladesh’s T20I team combinations, visit our Bangladesh team news page.
Future Role Remains Uncertain Ahead of Pakistan Series
Bangladesh are set to host Pakistan for a three-match T20I series on July 20, 22, and 24, all to be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. However, Naim clarified that there had been no official discussion regarding his batting position for the upcoming series.
“There haven’t been any talks yet about me playing in the middle order for the Pakistan series,” he said. “This was purely my personal training. I’m not here to reveal team strategies, and any such discussions should remain internal.”
“My focus right now is on staying ready as an opener. If the team needs me elsewhere, I’ll adapt accordingly — but my mindset and preparation are still centered on opening.”
Training With an Opener’s Mentality
Despite his recent outing at number four, Naim continues to train with the aim of reclaiming his preferred role at the top of the order. He emphasized that his preparation is aligned with his strengths and previous experience as an opening batter.
“Whenever I prepare, it’s always with the mindset of an opener. That’s where I’ve always played, and that’s what I’ve been training for,” said Naim, underscoring the importance of role clarity for performance.
For a complete preview of the Bangladesh vs Pakistan T20I series, visit the ESPNcricinfo match center.
