BAN vs AFG: All-rounder Karim Janat vows to prove his mettle in one-off Test

Afghanistan all-rounder Karim Janat is in incredible form at the moment and courtesy of the same, the selectors have once again given him an opportunity to prove himself in the longest format of the game. Notably, in the Ahmad Shah Abdali four-day tournament, Janat registered 561 runs to his name at an average of 140.25 including two hundreds and four fifties. Other than that, the 24-year-old also has 18 wickets to his name, making him the joint third-highest wicket-taker of the season.

As a result of his incredible performances, he has been called up for Afghanistan's one-off Test against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Janat was called up for the Test series against West Indies in 2019 but he didn’t get an opportunity to feature in the playing XI. However, four years later, the all-rounder is on the verge of playing his first Test and ahead of that, he spoke about his dream of playing red-ball cricket and what Test cricket eventually means to him.

“I am feeling very good (to make a comeback in the Test squad). I was included in the Test squad against West Indies (in 2019) but did not get the chance to play the game and so I am seeing whether I can get the game or not. But to be part of the 15-member squad of a Test series is a big thing for a player and I am really happy for that,” Janat told Cricbuzz.

The wicket in Afghanistan is dominated by spinners, I was specific in practising Sweep: Janat

Furthermore, Karim Janat shared his process of preparing for a tournament. In the same vein the all-rounder said that as the wickets in Afghanistan mostly assist the spinners, he particularly focussed on working on his Sweep shot which really helped in the recent first-class tournament. Hence, during the net sessions, he went about his business keeping the conditions in mind.

"Basically when there is a tournament in front of you in that case you take different preparation for it and I have done the same for the first-class competition. The wicket in Afghanistan where first-class cricket is being played usually it is dominated by the spinners. I was very specific about it and in the net usually practised keeping that in mind like practicing sweep (to score runs against spinners)," the cricketer added.

Notably, the one-off Test between Bangladesh and Afghanistan will begin on June 14 in Mirpur. Following the completion of the Test match, both teams will square off in a three-match ODI series and two-match T20I series.