Despite an impressive start to their international careers, paceman Al Amin Hossain and all-rounder Sohag Gazi slipped out from the Tigers side owing to suspect bowling action. The national duo however, successfully corrected their bowling action and received yet another lifeline yesterday as they were drafted into the Bangladesh Cricket Board's 27-member Elite Players' Conditioning Camp.
And according to Al Amin, the call-up would inspire him to continue training and preparing himself for a return to the national team while Gazi said it would be a tough challenge for him to stake a claim for himself in the side as the Tigers are brimming with consistent performers at the moment.
Al Amin, who was sent back home from Australia during the 2015 ICC World Cup for breaching team protocol, said, “It was very important for me to be in touch with cricket and train hard. And my inclusion in the conditioning camp will only help me,” he said.
The first and only cricketer in the history of Test cricket to score a hundred and pick up a hat-trick in the same five-dayer, Gazi made a brief comeback in the 1st Twenty20 international against South Africa last month but failed to impress, remaining wicket-less. While with the willow, Gazi was unlucky to be run out for three.
And after being called up to the conditioning camp, Gazi informed that it was a welcome relief.
“I was a bit upset after not getting calls for any such programmes previously. But since I was picked up for the conditioning camp, it feels good. There were a few questions with regards to our fitness and I think I can work on that in the training camp,” said Gazi before adding, “Bangladesh are playing brilliant cricket at the moment, especially in the ODIs, and I think there is a huge competition in the team. Everyone is performing. There is a good set of players who can come in as a replacement if someone fails to perform. I have to work hard and correct my mistakes and I am working both on my bowling and batting.”