Inspired by Harmanpreet Singh, Bangladesh’s Amirul Islam emerges as Junior World Cup’s new drag-flick sensation
Inspired by Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh, Bangladesh’s ace drag-flicker, Amirul Islam, has become a breakout sensation at the FIH Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup 2025.
Showcasing staggering raw power and precision, the 21-year-old defender has rocketed to the top of the tournament scoring charts—jointly leading alongside New Zealand’s Jonty Elmes and India’s Dilraj Singh. In Bangladesh’s debut campaign, Amirul scored back-to-back hat-tricks, all exclusively from Penalty Corners (PC), accounting for every single goal scored by the team against Australia and South Korea.
“I am a huge fan of India’s Harmanpreet Singh. I always try to follow his technique. When I was getting into it [drag flicking], I started to follow him and learn from him,” Amirul revealed, after helping Bangladesh earn its first tournament point in a thrilling comeback against South Korea. “I also like Australia’s Blake Govers.”
Amirul, a senior international who featured in the Hangzhou Asian Games and the 2025 Asian Cup, is generating serious buzz with his powerful drag flicks.
The Faridpur native also pointed out that, beyond his role as the team’s primary weapon from short corners, he is also working on other aspects of his game.
“See, I play as a defender. I’m constantly working to improve my overall game. In training, I mainly focus on team structure. Before and after training sessions, I get extra time and attention to practice PC. Usually, I take around 150 drag flicks,” he said.
A product of Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) —the country’s premier sports institute— Amirul is among the eight players who were part of Bangladesh’s squad in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir.
When quizzed about his team’s difficulty in scoring from open play, the youngster defended his teammates. “The attackers are trying very hard; they are winning PCs. It is not always easy to score field goals against tough opposition. It is a part of our tactics to win more PCs because that gives us a better opportunity to score,” he opined.
Amirul began his hockey journey at age 10 and was representing the country in age-group tournaments by 14. His path to becoming a drag-flicker, however, started much later. His first experience came during the 2019 Independence Cup while playing for BKSP. “I didn’t score a single goal in that tournament, but started my journey. After that, I started to spend more time practising flicks and, with time, improved my output,” he explained.
Under the guidance of newly appointed Dutch coach Siegfried Aikman, the Bangladesh team is leveraging the world stage to gain vital international exposure.
For players from smaller hockey nations like Bangladesh, which has limited international fixtures outside of continental events and lacks a competitive domestic structure, securing spots in foreign clubs is challenging. However, Amirul remains hopeful about professional opportunities abroad.
“I got an offer from a Bundesliga third-division club, but at that time, I was on national duty, so I couldn’t go at that time. But yes, if I get an opportunity to play in good foreign clubs, I will go,” he concluded.
Published on Dec 01, 2025