Nayeem becoming 51st Test player

Young Tigers recruit Nayeem Islam goes through the bowling motions during training at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium yesterday. Nayeem has been picked in the 13-man Test squad and looks good for a debut in the first Test against New Zealand.Photo: Zobaer Hossain Sikder

Nayeem Islam is all set to make his Test debut in the first of a two-match series against New Zea-land at the Chi-ttagong Divisional Stadium from October 17.
The right-handed batsman who made his one-day international debut in the three-match series against the Black Caps, will become the 51st Test match player for the Tigers.
Nayeem proved his mettle with three good showing with the ball in hand and although he was run out without facing a single delivery in his first innings, he batted well enough in the final ODI.
"I was a little nervous to start the innings like everyone else but once I had spent some time in the middle, I felt relaxed," said Nayeem while talking to the media yesterday.
"Once I heard that I would be in the Test team, I was very happy. It is like a dream for me," said the man from Gaibandha, who plays his first-class cricket for Rajshahi.
Nayeem, who played the under-19 World Cup in 2004, have been in good form for the last two seasons and his time in the GP-BCB National Cricket Academy and the Bangladesh A team has admittedly helped him make a calm beginning.
"I have been playing with the Academy and A team in foreign conditions so probably I felt much calmer because of that," said Nayeem.
"There are no personal goals for me but to bat for a long time. Although I like batting between four and six, I would stick to whatever the team tells me to do," added the young batsman.
Primarily a middle-order batsman, Nayeem's useful contribution with the ball has given him the place of a spinning all-rounder as well.
"I am used to bowling 15-20 overs so if the captain asks me to bowl more than that, I must try to do that," said Nayeem.
Rajshahi captain Khaled Mashud backed Nayeem, saying that the inclusion is of a solid player.
"He has the quality of playing in the longer-version and he deserves to play for Bangladesh given his domestic performance," said Mashud who announced his retirement from international cricket this month.
The former national captain also praised his bowling abilities: "I think he is a rare breed among offspinners because he can read a batsman and not just bowl off-break for the sake of bowling."
Mashud hoped that his protégé from the Rajshahi team does well but refrained from advising him as it would put more pressure on the youngster.