It was not long ago that, pacer Taskin Ahmed dropped out of the national team due to lack of consistent performances. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan Papon also lost hope in him. There were also doubts as to how long pacer Rubel Hossain could play in top level cricket.
However, both of these bowlers have answered to their critics with some impressive bowling display in the recently concluded BCB President’s Cup. Rubel was named the tournament’s best bowler, and Taskin was named as the best comeback player. Mustafizur Rahman, Al-Amin Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin have also done well. Youngster Sumon Khan also announced himself as a new pace bowling prodigy, with his brilliant 5-wicket haul in the final.
The preparatory one-day event was organized to break the seven-month stagnation in cricket caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the frustrating display of the batsmen in the tourney, a swarm of fast bowlers’ impressive bowling display is giving hope to the BCB.
At the end of Sunday’s final, the board president praised the pacers, saying, “I like the way Taskin returned with consistency. I thought for a while that he might not return to the national team. But he did very well. Rubel with whom we are wondering what to do, have also bowled brilliantly throughout the tournament. Not only that, I am seeing a new boy named Sumon Khan doing well. Ebadot and Al-Amin also bowled well. Any lingering doubts about these players performance are now shattered. I believe they are back to their best.”
The hero who made Mahmudullah XI the champion with 5 wickets in the final was pacer Sumon, who grabbed 5 wickets for 38 runs. He has taken 9 wickets in 3 matches. Rubel became the peak of the bowler with 12 wickets. Mohammad Saifuddin got 12 wickets without playing in the final. The head of the board also gave him a special award to inspire him. Besides, Mustafiz and Taskin have made an impact with series of consistent performances. They scalped 8 and 7 wickets respectively. Al-Amin also showed some rhythm with 8 wickets. Ebadot Hossain, Abu Zayed Rahi, Shariful Islam and Muqidul Hasan have announced their arrival with some top notch bowling performances.
All in all, with so many pacers on fire, it was a great relief to the BCB president, ‘Pace bowling was our biggest weakness. This is the first time I saw a tournament where the pacers did well. Shariful did well. They will not come to the national team right now. If we can nurture them, then there is a good chance that they might get a nod for the national team in future.”
