“It is always a big thing to achieve in Test cricket, especially in a situation like that,” Atal told Cricinfo about his epic knock. “I was disappointed [on getting out] because I thought that was maybe it. Maybe we lost the match here. But Alhamdulillah, the rest of the boys played really well and they defended a lot of balls and that’s why we were on the right track. We finished the match the way we wanted.”
As Atal went from one session to another, the biggest factor was his transformation from being such an impetuous hitter of the ball to curbing all his instincts. Atal said that he surprised himself with how even a little change in mindset could lead to such a big result.
“It is about knowing the condition and knowing the situation, knowing what is required at that time for the team,” he said. “So that’s why I just changed things a little bit and it affected much more than I expected.”
Atal said that his first-innings dismissal played a big part in driving home the message that he needed to change things up. Atal had been dismissed for 17 in the first innings when he edged one to slip with a loose shot away from his body. He was later seen working with Toby Radford, the Afghanistan batting coach, during the innings breaks.
“In red-ball cricket, my focus always is that I should not play outside-off balls, but I played that and it was very disappointing for me,” he said. “And I just learned from that one dismissal and all my focus was on leaving the fourth, fifth and sixth-stump balls.”
Atal showed what it meant to walk the talk. Afghanistan lost two early wickets after Bangladesh gave them roughly 140 overs and a target of 479. The expectation from captain Rahmat Shah, who had struck a century in the first innings, might have been to provide resistance against the Bangladesh attack. When Rahmat joined Atal at 28 for 2 in the chase, Atal’s was a support act initially.
“Batting with him (Rahmat) is always cool,” Atal said. “He is a more experienced player in our red-ball side. So we enjoyed a lot together when we were at the crease. It was hard, but the message was clear: we have to just focus on defending the ball, not focus on scoring the runs.”
“Everyone, I think, feels a little bit nervous when they are reaching the 90s. I was looking for a scoring option as well at that time, but when I got my hundred, I just said that I have to concentrate on defending the balls.”
Sediqullah Atal
But as Rahmat fell for 51 and Hashmatullah Shahidi had to retire hurt, Atal’s impact came under the spotlight even more. He scored his maiden Test half-century before putting on crucial partnerships with anyone who was willing to defend with him. He added 66 runs off 147 balls with Ikram Alikhil before he had to tackle the new ball with Ismat Alam, a newbie at the crease.
Alam blocked and took his first run after facing 44 balls. Atal praised Alam’s determination, which was evident in how the No. 7 was seen shedding tears after he got out for 4 off 60 balls that took nearly an hour and a half.
“There was no such moment against the old ball,” Atal said. “But when they got the new ball, there was a little bit of movement for a few overs. But Ismat and me survived that really well and we played according to the condition and situation. We just tried to bat as long as possible.”
There was, however, a moment when time stood still in Abu Dhabi. Litton Das, having effected nine dismissals in the match until then, missed Atal’s stumping on 70. The ball from Taijul Islam jumped a bit higher than Litton anticipated, as Atal was left far outside the crease after missing a big swipe before getting back in the crease. In his own words, Atal was disappointed at missing the delivery, which he said was in his zone.
“Yeah, it was a little bit unlucky for me, because I missed my favourite ball,” he said. “It was in my zone. But the ball was new at that time, so it didn’t turn; it just skidded on. I just missed that totally. But I’m grateful that he didn’t stump me. That’s why I just changed my approach a little bit more, that I have to keep my wicket. I have to stay and focus more to defend the balls.”
As Atal moved into the nineties, he started to fray at times. He said that he was looking for scoring opportunities to get into the three-figures. “Everyone, I think, feels a little bit nervous when they are reaching the 90s,” he said. “I was looking for a scoring option as well at that time, but when I got my hundred, I just said that I have to concentrate on defending the balls.”
Those, right there, are unexpected words from Atal. Afghanistan will now hope he reverts to his natural style of batting in the upcoming ODI tri-series in the UAE. But the next time Afghanistan play a Test match, they will know Atal has a different playbook too. He will also hope that there are more such big knocks yet to come in his life.
Mohammad Isam is Cricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
