Afif Hossain

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Afif Hossain

| image =

| caption = Afif in 2022

| fullname = Afif Hossain Dhrubo

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|9|22|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Khulna, Bangladesh

| nickname = Dhrubo{{cite news |url=https://tbsnews.net/sports/afif-hossain-boy-wonder-bangladesh-60169 |title=Afif Hossain: The boy wonder from Bangladesh |work=The Business Standard |date=24 March 2020 |access-date=30 January 2021}}

| heightft = 5

| heightinch = 7

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Right-arm off break

| role = All-rounder

| country = Bangladesh

| international = true

| internationalspan = 2018–present

| odidebutdate = 6 March

| odidebutyear = 2020

| odidebutagainst = Zimbabwe

| odicap = 132

| lastodidate = 6 September

| lastodiyear = 2023

| lastodiagainst = Pakistan

| odishirt = 18

| T20Idebutdate = 15 February

| T20Idebutyear = 2018

| T20Idebutagainst = Sri Lanka

| T20Icap = 58

| lastT20Iagainst = England

| lastT20Idate = 3 May 2023

| lastT20Iyear = 2023

| T20Ishirt = 88

| club1 = Khulna Division

| year1 = 2017

| club2 = Rajshahi Kings

| year2 = 2016

| club3 = Khulna Titans

| year3 = 2017

| club4 = Sylhet Sixers

| year4 = 2019

| club5 = Rajshahi Royals

| year5 = 2019–2020

| columns = 2

| column1 = ODI

| matches1 = 22

| runs1 = 495

| bat avg1 = 35.35

| 100s/50s1 = 0/3

| top score1 = 93*

| deliveries1 = 82

| wickets1 = 3

| bowl avg1 = 22.66

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 1/0

| catches/stumpings1 = 9/–

| column2 = T20I

| matches2 = 60

| runs2 = 1,003

| bat avg2 = 21.34

| 100s/50s2 = 0/3

| top score2 = 77*

| deliveries2 = 150

| wickets2 = 9

| bowl avg2 = 23.22

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 2/9

| catches/stumpings2 = 16/–

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/935995.html ESPN Cricinfo

| date = 11 March

| year = 2023

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry |{{BAN}}}}

| club6 = Jaffna Kings

| year6 = 2022

| club7 = Chattogram Challengers

| year7 = 2023

|club8=Khulna Tigers|year8=2024-2025}}

Afif Hossain Dhrubo (Bengali: আফিফ হোসেন ধ্রুব; born 22 September 1999) is a Bangladeshi cricketer.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/935995.html |title=Afif Hossain |access-date=11 February 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} In February 2018, he was named in Bangladesh's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against Sri Lanka.{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22388081/bangladesh-pick-five-uncapped-players-sri-lanka-t20i |title=Bangladesh pick five uncapped players for Sri Lanka T20I |work=ESPN Cricinfo |date=10 February 2018 |access-date=10 February 2018}} He made his T20I debut for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka on 15 February 2018.{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1130746.html |title=1st T20I (N), Sri Lanka Tour of Bangladesh at Dhaka, Feb 15 2018 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |date=15 February 2018 |access-date=15 February 2018}}

Early life

Afif was a student of the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan, Bangladesh's biggest sports institute, that has also produced the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain, etc. He was known as a big-hitter at the U-19 level, and coaches found him similar to Tamim Iqbal.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh-premier-league-2016-17/content/story/1070292.html |title=Who is Afif Hossain? |access-date=3 December 2016 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}

Domestic career

At 17 years and 72 days, Afif became the youngest bowler to take a T20 five-wicket haul on his debut on 3 December 2016 for Rajshahi Kings in the BPL 2016.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1063086.html |title=Bangladesh Premier League, 40th Match: Chittagong Vikings v Rajshahi Kings at Dhaka, Dec 3, 2016 |access-date=3 December 2016 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/591060 |title=Preview: Bangladesh U19 v Namibia U19 |access-date=12 January 2018 |work=International Cricket Council}} Playing in the closing stages of the league phase, he ran through Chittagong Vikings with his 5 for 21, including the wicket of Chris Gayle.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh-premier-league-2016-17/content/story/1070303.html |title=Debutant Afif's 5 for 21 stuns Chittagong |access-date=3 December 2016 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.crictracker.com/stats-youngest-players-to-take-a-5-wicket-haul-in-t20-cricket/ |title=Stats: Youngest players to take a 5-wicket haul in T20 cricket |access-date=3 December 2016 |work=Crictracker}}

Afif made his first-class debut for East Zone in the 2016–17 Bangladesh Cricket League on 11 February 2017. Opening the batting, he scored 105 in the first innings and was named player of the match.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1079901.html |title=Bangladesh Cricket League, East Zone (Bangladesh) v North Zone (Bangladesh) at Fatullah, Feb 11-14, 2017 |access-date=11 February 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}

On 5 June 2017, in the 2016–17 Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, Afif took a hat-trick playing for Abahani Limited.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/story/1101393.html |title=Afif's hat-trick sets up mouthwatering finish to DPL |access-date=5 June 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}

In October 2018, Afif was named in the squad for the Sylhet Sixers team, following the draft for the 2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League.{{cite web |url=http://www.tigercricket.com.bd/2018/10/29/full-players-list-of-the-teams-following-players-draft-of-bpl-t20-2018-19/ |title=Full players list of the teams following Players Draft of BPL T20 2018-19 |work=Bangladesh Cricket Board |access-date=29 October 2018}} In August 2019, he was one of 35 cricketers named in a training camp ahead of Bangladesh's 2019–20 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27407697/mohammad-naim-yeasin-arafat-saif-hassan-look-bangladesh-future |title=Mohammad Naim, Yeasin Arafat, Saif Hassan - A look into Bangladesh's future |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=17 August 2019}} In November 2019, he was selected to play for the Rajshahi Royals in the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28105555/tamim-iqbal-team-coach-mohammad-salahuddin-dhaka |title=BPL draft: Tamim Iqbal to team up with coach Mohammad Salahuddin for Dhaka |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=18 November 2019}}

Under-19 career

Afif was the vice-captain of the Bangladesh U-19 side for the 2016 Asia Cup.{{Cite news |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/cricket/2016/11/13/bangladesh-squad-named-u-19-asia-cup-2/ |title=Bangladesh squad named for U-19 Asia Cup |access-date=13 November 2016 |work=Dhaka Tribune}} In December 2017, he was named in Bangladesh's squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21684882/saif-hassan-likely-lead-bangladesh-u-19-world-cup |title=Saif Hassan likely to lead Bangladesh U-19 at World Cup |access-date=6 December 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} He was the leading run-scorer for Bangladesh in the tournament, with 276 runs.{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=11980;team=723;type=tournament |title=ICC Under-19 World Cup, 2017/18 - Bangladesh Under-19s: Batting and bowling averages |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=3 February 2018}} Following Bangladesh's matches in the tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) named Afif as the rising star of the squad.{{cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/612448 |title=U19CWC Report Card: Bangladesh |access-date=4 February 2018 |work=International Cricket Council}}

In December 2018, Afif was named in Bangladesh's team for the 2018 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup.{{cite web |url=http://www.tigercricket.com.bd/2018/11/29/media-release-acc-emerging-teams-asia-cup-2018-bangladesh-emerging-squad-announced/ |title=Media Release : ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2018: Bangladesh emerging squad announced |work=Bangladesh Cricket Board |access-date=3 December 2018}}

International career

Afif made his international debut in 2018 against Sri Lanka in the first T20I but his second-ball duck with the bat and 1/26 in 2 overs with ball witnessed him to be dropped from next match.

He was included in the squad for 2019–20 Bangladesh Tri-Nation Series, and in the first match against Zimbabwe, while Bangladesh was on the verge of defeat losing 6 wicket for 60 runs and still needing 85 runs to win, he came to bat at no. 8 and scored a blistering knock of 52 off 26 balls and made a crucial 82-run stand with Mosaddek Hossain to overcome the target. Subsequently, he was selected for Man of Match award for his knock.{{cite news |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/19452/report/1197140/ |title=Young Afif Hossain gate crashes Zimbabwe's party |work=ESPN Cricinfo |date=13 September 2019}}

In November 2019, Afif was named in Bangladesh's squad for the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Bangladesh.{{cite web |url=http://www.tigercricket.com.bd/2019/11/10/media-release-bangladesh-squad-for-emerging-teams-asia-cup-2019-announced/ |title=Media Release : Bangladesh squad for Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2019 announced |work=Bangladesh Cricket Board |access-date=11 November 2019}} Later the same month, he was named in Bangladesh's squad for the cricket tournament at the 2019 South Asian Games.{{cite web |url=http://www.tigercricket.com.bd/2019/11/29/media-release-bangladesh-u23-squad-for-13th-south-asian-game-announced/ |title=Media Release : Bangladesh U23 Squad for 13th South Asian Game Announced |work=Bangladesh Cricket Board |access-date=30 November 2019}} The Bangladesh team won the gold medal, after they beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the final.{{cite news |url=https://bdnews24.com/cricket/2019/12/09/south-asian-games-bangladesh-secure-gold-in-mens-cricket |title=South Asian Games: Bangladesh secure gold in men's cricket |work=bdnews24.com |access-date=9 December 2019}}

In February 2020, Afif was named in Bangladesh's One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against Zimbabwe.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28763968/afif-hossain-mohammad-naim-break-bangladesh-odi-squad |title=Afif Hossain and Mohammad Naim break into Bangladesh ODI squad |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=23 February 2020}} He made his ODI debut for Bangladesh, against Zimbabwe, on 6 March 2020.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1214669.html |title=3rd ODI (D/N), Zimbabwe tour of Bangladesh at Sylhet, Mar 6 2020 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=6 March 2020}} In September 2021, he was named in Bangladesh's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/t20-world-cup-2021-bangladesh-squad-no-surprises-mahmudullah-captain-shakib-mushfiqur-rahim-in-1276979 |title=No surprises as Bangladesh name Mahmudullah-led squad for T20 World Cup |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=9 September 2021}}

In February 2022, he scored 93* and helped Bangladesh to get a famous win against Afghanistan in Chattogram, which is the highest individual score for any Bangladeshi batter in ODI cricket while batting at number 7 and lower.{{cite news |last=Bandarupalli |first=Sampath |title=Stats - Afif and Mehidy's 79.45% contribution to Bangladesh's cause |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/bangladesh-vs-afghanistan-stats-afif-mehidy-account-for-79-45-of-bangladesh-s-runs-1302386 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |date=23 January 2022}}

In August 2022, Afif scored 85 runs in 81 balls in the last ODI against Zimbabwe to prevent a whitewash. Bangladesh were able to get to a score of 256/9, and Bangladesh won. He won the "Man of the Match" Award for his efforts.

In May 2024, he was named as a reserve player in Bangladesh's squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.{{Cite web |title=Bangladesh Squad for Upcoming T20 World Cup |url=https://www.scorewaves.com/news-details/bangladesh-squad-for-t20-world-cup |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=ScoreWaves |language=en}}