Left-arm spinners have played and are playing a vital role in Bangladesh cricket. Fondly known as ‘Mona bhai’, Enamul Haque was born in Comilla in 1966. The slow left-arm orthodox spinner made his international debut in an ODI game against New Zealand in 1990 at Sharjah. However, his international wicket came after seven years in his eighth ODI. Haque’s first international victim was one of the best openers of his time - Saeed Anwar - at Colombo in an Asia Cup encounter.

Haque was known to be a reliable bowler in the domestic arena. But he found cricket tough at the highest level as he had limited variations with the ball. Though he played just 10 Tests and 29 ODIs for Bangladesh, he was around the national team for more than a decade.

He announced his retirement after the home Test series against South Africa in 2003. Immediately, he took up umpiring. He made his debut as an umpire in November 2006 officiating a T20I match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. In January 2012, in a match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe, Haque became the first neutral Tests umpire from Bangladesh.

By Abhinand Raghavendran