Can he break the jinx?

PICTURE WITHIN A PICTURE: Spinner Taijul Islam has his hattrick moment framed. Photo: Star

Time and again, the Tigers come up with a spinner who forces his way into the national team after a string of impressive performances in domestic cricket.

Shohag Gazi came into light after a six-wicket haul and a century in the same match during a four-dayer and eventually made the Test team in 2012. Elias Sunny, debuted in 2011 after an impressive display for Bangladesh A against South Africa.

They made fantastic starts to their international careers as well. Gazi's off-spinners scalped a six-wicket haul in his opening Test. Sunny did the same against the West Indies in 2011. The disappointing aspect though was the way their careers dwindled. Gazi's form took a hit barely a year after his debut, while Sunny's inability to sustain at the top level gave him the 'meant only for domestic leagues' tag.

And that's the reason why there was a hint of caution amidst the excitement when Taijul Islam recorded Bangladesh's best bowling figures in Test cricket last November, or even when he became the first ever cricketer to take a hattrick on debut.

Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim had issued a warning of sorts: "Please don't make this young cricketer feel like he is a big player. It is our job to perform and he did that," he urged the media.

Mushfiqur's concern was understandable. The bowler's domestic record after all, followed, or perhaps even bettered, his predecessors. He had taken 37 wickets, the highest in the tournament, for North Zone in the last edition of the Bangladesh Cricket League in 2014. He had also taken a 10-wicket haul in the National Cricket League the same year. That was followed by a hard-fought five-for on his Test debut in the West Indies.

His ability to use the bounce and get wickets compelled selectors to include him in the World Cup, where bouncy pitches are expected to dominate. Taijul has come a long way since his debut three months ago. However, history suggests that he has a long rickety road ahead.

The left-armer exuded confidence during the pre-World Cup press conference. "I want to finish as one of the event's top ten wicket-takers."

It was an ambitious statement, but one that had been heard before. The question that remains is whether Taijul can overcome the uncanny sense of satisfaction that is supposed to have had led to the downfall of a number of young Tigers and break the jinx.