‘I now believe I can score in T20s’
Some youngsters and a few fresh faces have been given opportunities in Bangladesh’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series in Pakistan and the likes of top-order batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto will surely look to capitalise on his chance this time around.
The 21-year-old left hander has been highly rated by selectors but is yet to justify his talent on the international stage. Since making his Test debut in 2017 in New Zealand, Nazmul has played just one more Test and also had a disappointing start to his ODI career during the Asia Cup in 2018.
The scenario was much the same in T20Is as Nazmul scored just 11 against Zimbabwe on his T20I debut and managed just five against Afghanistan in the last T20I he played for Bangladesh in September last year.
In the recently concluded Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League too, Nazmul did not have the best of starts for Khulna Tigers. Fortunately for the talented left-hander, he finally broke the shackles and smashed a blistering hundred against Dhaka Platoon to become the edition’s first local centurion. He continued his fine run and went scored an unbeaten 78 in the first qualifier against Rajshahi Royals.
Nazmul said that BBPL performances helped boost his confidence and that he is looking forward to drawing from that belief in Pakistan.
“I think, after the BPL, I have gained the confidence that I am able to score runs in the shortest format. Initially I lacked in confidence as I was unable to score runs in the early stages of the tournament. But I kept the belief and that helped me score runs in the latter stages,” Nazmul told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
The Rajshahi lad also informed that he has learned a lot from past mistakes and that he was looking forward to applying the lessons if he gets the opportunity against Pakistan.
With a total of five openers in the squad, including Nazmul, the cricketer informed that he is ready to bat in any position as per the demands of the team.
Nazmul. who toured the country with the Bangladesh Emerging Team in 2018, informed that there are sporting pitches in Pakistan, which would help both batsmen and bowlers.
The Bangladesh squad will depart for Pakistan on January 22 and will take part in the first of the T20Is on January 24 in Lahore. There are a few fitness concerns with skipper Mahmudullah Riyad suffering from fever while star opener Tamim Iqbal has some pain in his hip. However, both senior members are expected to be fit in time for the first T20I.
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