Mahmud gets maiden call-up
‘No compromise with pace’ |
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Hasan Mahmud said that he has been fascinated by pace bowling since his childhood. The 20-year-old pacer from Laxmipur was excited with his national team call-up and set a personal target to terrorise batsmen with more pace. “I was interested in pace bowling from my childhood. I have the speed and I want to work with that to become a good fast bowler. I will not compromise with my pace rather I want more speed in my bowling,” Hasan said. “I’m really excited. The national team was not in my sight when I played the BBPL but I am happy that I did well in the tournament and got called up. Now, my target is to give my best to cement my place in the national team.” |
The national selectors saw fit to include the uncapped Hasan Mahmud in the 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Pakistan later this month in a bid to unearth an up and coming pace bowler who can consistently bowl at 140mph.
National selector, Habibul Bashar, informed that they do not have any immediate plans for the young prospect since they included four other pace bowlers in the side. However, they do intend to nurse the potential talent under national team management, according to the former Bangladesh captain.
“Hasan is a genuine fast bowler and I think the brightest among young pacers in terms of pace. You need extra pace while playing international cricket and this guy has that additional advantage. You need either 140+mph pace or swing when you play international cricket and unfortunately, we don’t have any one like that right at this moment. Hasan has got the potential to fill that deficiency,” said Bashar.
“We have to handle him in such a way that his pace won’t be compromised,” he added.
Bashar’s words seemingly echoed of the sentiments of Dhaka Platoon coach Mohammad Salahuddin. Salahuddin praised the young pacer prior to the recently concluded Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL), saying that he is a good young prospect for Bangladesh cricket.
However, one cannot simply judge him by the number of scalps he took in the tournament as the speed with which he bowled also caught many an eye.
Bashar went on to explain why no left-arm spinners were included in the squad.
“There was not any option for us as our left-arm spinners did not do well in the BBPL. We thought that it would be better to give leg-spinner Aminul Islam Biplob enough chance while off-spinner Mahadi Hasan has been performing well. Both have a very good chance to play,” said Bashar.
“We have left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed who did well but we thought that it could be too early for him. Experienced left-arm spinner Taijul Islam is not in good form and probably his white-ball engagement fetters his red-ball bowling,” continued the national selector.
Although they will miss the services of Mushfiqur Rahim, who opted out of the tour, Bashar was optimistic about the team’s overall demeanour.
“There is no alternative to Mushy [Mushfiqur] but I am optimistic as everybody in the team is in good form,” he said.
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