‘Correcting mistakes to gradually improve as a pace unit’

Bangladesh are gearing up for their tour to South Africa with the ODIs to begin from March 18 before the Test series commences from March 31. Having never won a match on South African soil, the Tigers face a similar challenge to the one they faced in New Zealand just recently this year. The win at Mount Maunganui Test however gave the team confidence and the pacers were the Tigers' main weapon that game in terms of overcoming the odds. Pacer Taskin Ahmed was keen on improving further as an unit while talking to the media today.

Having never won at South Africa, the Tigers will be aware of the challenges in both white and red ball formats. The ability to push the opponents back will depend on how much the pace unit can thrive on conditions suited for pace. That there was confidence among pacers after the New Zealand series was asserted by Taskin's ambition. "Maintaining process is important for me since the dream is big. I want to be a world class bowler," he said.

"It will be challenging. New Zealand was challenging too but our Test win there infused confidence among us. We won some tough games at home against Afghanistan too, with [Mehedi Hasan] Miraz and Afif [Hossain] doing well. If we can play our best cricket, then it's possible to win in South Africa too."

Taskin bowled at the nets to Mahmudullah Riyad at practice today and he said he was just trying to be in the flow before the tour. "I was working out bowling with the white ball during middle overs. The other day I had worked with Tamim [Iqbal] bhai with the new ball."

The challenge for the pace unit will be under focus again. Taskin was well aware that the sporting tracks at South Africa will see runs scored if bowlers err in line and length. He was keen on working things out with the rest of his pace unit.

"For last one-and-a-half year, the pace bowling unit is improving gradually and everyone is consistent. We're hoping to hold onto this theme. We have Asia Cup, World Cup (T20) and 2023 World Cup (ODI) ahead and if we can keep improving then we have a good chance."

Asked what their thought process have been with the old ball, especially reverse swing, he reiterated: "We're trying to improve everyday and trying to minimise our weaknesses. The aim is to sharpen our strengths and we're working towards that. We are a pace bowling unit and the bonding between us is very good. We're trying things together and hopefully we can improve on reverse swing and death over bowling as well."