Pace uncompromised on Taskin's way back
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is hopeful that pacer Taskin Ahmed will return to international cricket with his formidable pace undiminished in the upcoming home series against England. The right-arm paceman has been going through a rehabilitation programme to modify his action for a particular delivery without compromising his pace.
The programme has been designed keeping in mind that his main strength, which is his high pace, should not be slowed down. His progress in rehab was a little delayed due to his participation in the Dhaka Premier League but the BCB was hopeful that the pacer will be available for the next international engagement against England.
“We are yet to take any decision regarding when we will send our two bowlers [Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny] for re-assessment or where we will send them. Our head coach [Chandika Hathurusingha] will re-assess their progress and everything once the national camp starts next week and then we will take the final decision. But we are hopeful that everything will be in place before the England series,” said BCB's cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan yesterday.
Former pace bowler Zakir Hossain, who is now looking after the rehab programme after Zimbabwean bowling coach Heath Streak departed the BCB job, was also optimistic about Taskin's return well before the England series.
“The rehab programme was held back for a while as he played the league matches. But he has so far made good progress. He has problem with one particular delivery which is his bouncer but now he is in good shape with this delivery. His pace is his main asset and we saw how he can terrorise the batsmen with his pace so his rehab programme was designed in such a way that his natural strength is intact,” said Zakir.
Taskin, along with left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny, was suspended from bowling in international cricket during the last World Twenty20 in India in March this year after an independent assessment found their bowling actions to be illegal after being reported for suspect actions during the World T20 first-round match against the Netherlands.
The BCB was hopeful about both bowlers' return during the England series. England are expected to arrive in Bangladesh on September 30. If everything goes according to plan, they will begin with three ODIs in October and then play two Tests.