Aftab Ahmed first came to the attention of the Bangladeshi selectors after scoring 79 against South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup in 2002, and the following year he was pitched into the Test squad to face England, despite having failed to impress in two earlier warm-up matches. His selection was initially viewed with suspicion by the local media, who regarded Aftab as something of a one-day cowboy, and indeed his desire to belt the cover off the ball has resulted in some all-too-brief performances. His potential, however, is plain to see, and his selection for the seminal tour of England early in 2005 was evidence of the selectors' faith, which he repaid at Chester-le-Street with a defiant, carefree 82 not out, the highest score for Bangladesh in the Test series. He also finished off the historic one-day win over Australia at Cardiff, smashing Jason Gillespie for four and six to seal victory. His medium-pacers have potential as well, as he showed with an astonishing one-day haul of 5 for 31 against New Zealand in November 2004. He led Bangladesh to a 3-2 series victory with an unbeaten 81 in the final match against Zimbabwe in January 2005. Since then, barring that run-a-ball 82 at the Riverside, he's hit a lean patch: he hasn't reached 30 in a Test, while in one-dayers he hit a couple of fifties against the Kenyans early in 2006, but failed to impress against Australia. On the tours of Zimbabwe and Kenya in August, Aftab delighted everyone with his all-out attack attitude but often threw it away when he promised so much more. He struck five fifties in eleven innings against Zimbabwe and Scotland since the Champions Trophy in October but a century still eludes him. He reached a career best of 92 against Zimbabwe in February 2007. However, he suddenly turned his back on Bangladesh cricket when he joined the rebel Indian Cricket League in 2008. He was subsequently handed a 10-year ban by the BCB.

Andrew Miller (September 16, 2008)

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Oct 25, 2008 Aftab Ahmed slams one of three sixes against Bengal © ICL

Mar 20, 2008 Aftab Ahmed plays a reverse-sweep during his 61 © TigerCricket.com

Mar 2, 2008 Aftab Ahmed is taken off the field in a stretcher © Getty Images

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