His phone finally rang

While the Peninsula Hotel in Chittagong was abuzz yesterday with the announcement of three new Tigers, Rokibul Hassan was getting prepared to attend the Zohr prayers along with some of his National Cricket Academy teammates at the Academy house in Dhanmondi.
His cell phone rang and the news he received was most pleasing to his ears.
The young man, who hails from Jamalpur, is among the three new faces who have been selected in the Bangladesh squad for the forthcoming one-day series against South Africa.
The 21-year-old Rokibul tried to keep himself oblivious to the happenings of Chittagong till that phone call came as he had a feeling that this was his time but still didn't want to expect anything.
"Someone from the cricket board called me and when I heard that I was selected, I was over the moon," said an animated Rokibul later in the evening.
But his call-up was not entirely unexpected. Ever since he smashed a triple century in the National Cricket League in 2006-07, he was earmarked as one for the future.
He was drafted into the National Cricket Academy this year where his work ethic was received with approval. The ride for this lad from the backwaters of Bangladesh cricket has now met a great destination.
"I began from school cricket and then during those days, I used to play district leagues around Jamalpur. Then I was selected for the regional under-17s from where I was picked for the under-19 World Cup team in 2006," informed Rokibul, known for his big smile.
"Nobody ever told me that I would play for Bangladesh until I played that three-day warm-up against South Africa (in Fatullah). Since then, I have heard that I was close to get a call.
"All I wanted to do since then was working harder on my game," said Rokibul.