Sadly no 'home sweet home' for Rubel
Want to know where Rubel Hossain is right now? “I am now in Bagerhat [his hometown],” the pace bowler will tell you.
Spending time in one's hometown always brings a sense of delight to national cricketers. While a few of them have capitalised on the break with a few foreign trips, most of the players have been enjoying their stay at home after a grueling season of international commitments.
But Rubel's reply had a tinge of sadness. The right-arm paceman cannot wait to return to cricket.
When Bangladesh's pace-attack took the centre-stage of discussion in world cricket, he was not there as constant injuries hindered his progress in international cricket.
He was also temporarily excluded from the new central contracts' list for not following the board's injury rehabilitation guidelines, which only made things worse for him.
In the face of such a dire scenario, the coming Dhaka Premier League (DPL) will be extremely important for the 26-year-old. He has now fully recovered from his calf muscle injury.
“I have spent enough time at home, now I am eagerly waiting to return to Dhaka and play some cricket. Only a professional player knows how painful it is to be out of the game for such a long time,” said Rubel, who last played in December 2015.
The DPL is crucial for him not only for getting back his bowling rhythm but also to draw the attention of the selectors. It can also be a prospect for him to earn some money as the exclusion from the central contract also stopped his handsome monthly income.
“There was a small mistake from my side. I am a professional cricketer, so you can understand what kind of difficulties I am facing following the removal of the monthly salary. But I am now looking forward to make my comeback,” said Rubel.
“I missed the Asia Cup and World Twenty20. Obviously I was bit upset at that point of time. But now I am fully fit and my only focus is the Premier League where I want to bowl well.
“There are number of international commitments in the coming days and I have to prove my point to be recalled in the team,” he continued.
Taskin Ahmed was banned from bowling in the middle of the World Cup. Many reckoned that Rubel would have been the perfect replacement had he been fit. Did Rubel share a similar view? “No, I never thought of it that way. I was injured and that's why I missed the two big tournaments, that's it,” he responded.
Rubel's match-winning bowling figures of 4 for 53 against England in the World Cup was arguably the best moment for Bangladesh in that mega event.
Despite his heroics, he knows he has to do extremely well to get a place in the national team right now.
“There is Mashrafe [Bin Mortaza] bhai, Taskin, Mustafizur [Rahman] and Al-Amin [Hossain] so the competition is immense. It will be a big challenge for me,” admitted Rubel.
The bowler however, has the self-belief that a few good moments in the DPL can help him regain his form. As he subtly put it: “A good spell will give me the confidence.”