Wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan Sohan scripted a fairytale return to the Bangladesh national fold. The right-handed batsman made his first international appearance in a T20I in January 2016 as part of the selectors' experiment ahead of the Asia Cup and the World T20I. His debut in ODIs was also unprecedented, and had come at the back of an injured Mushfiqur Rahim on the tour of New Zealand in December the same year. However, after nine T20Is, three Tests and two ODIs, Nurul slowly drifted away from the set-up for the sake of team combination. The 27-year old from Khulna hounded his talent in the domestic circuit for the next three years and when given an opportunity in the national team again, in the recent tour of Zimbabwe, he ensured to make an impact. Dhaka Tribune spoke to Nurul on the recent and sudden change in the course of his career.
How do you see your return to the national team after 2018?
Honestly I used to think a lot, of the journey or my future as a cricketer. I used to question myself if my work and dedication is upto the mark. Initially after I got dropped from the national team I used to doubt and put myself under pressure. Later I had set my mind that whenever I get a chance I will try to ensure giving my best and that I have upto the mark dedication and keep my process right. Now I have a mindset to hold onto my homework and focus as long as I am playing cricket, irrespective of the level I am playing at. I strongly believe I will get what I deserve; I cannot fight to get more but can work hard.
Nurul and Afif Hossain during the course of their match-winning partnership against Australia in the second T20I AFP Was there a point you were under tremendous pressure, and doubtful of your future?
Of course like I said I used to question myself and my dedication towards the game. You question yourself when you are in doubt. Now I realize such thoughts had worked negatively for me. That mindset do not help at all, rather pushes you back. Now I try to keep away from those and keep focus on how I can do better. It is important for me that I do not let the negative thoughts touch me anymore, irrespective of whatever level of cricket I am playing.
What was going though your mind when you got to play an ODI for the first time in four and a half years? The third ODI on tour of Zimbabwe...
After I got a call back to the national team for ODIs, I was told by Tamim bhai [Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal] that I will get to play at least one game in Zimbabwe. So I knew I had a game coming my way and I was focused on things that I need to do to keep myself ready, maintaining the process and quickly coping with the condition [in Zimbabwe]. Honestly you do come under pressure when you are playing in the national team after such a long time but I must say I am blessed that I am always supported by the seniors and friends in the team. But like said I have readied myself to not let the negativities affect me, there was no pressure in mind that I must perform or that it is my last chance. Once I was in the middle to bat for the team, I was fully focused on the game.
Nurul prides in his dual role as a wicketkeeper-batsman AFP
You have played one ODI and eight T20Is within a short span since your return to the team last month. How do you rate your performance so far?
For me, playing according to the need of the team is always bigger than getting to a milestone like scoring a fifty or a hundred. Those things simply don’t matter to me. I am happy to score say, important five or 10 runs if that helps my team to win. I want to deliver as per the situation of the game and according to the team demand. When I was batting with Afif [Hossain] in the last one-dayer, I was unbeaten on 45, Afif had asked me if I want to go for the fifty but I pressed that we should score according to the opportunity for the team and not for individual achievement. I felt it was more important for us to win the game.
Which one do you enjoy more, praise of your batting or wicket-keeping?
For me the most important thing is to be involved with the team when I am in the middle of the field. When I am behind the stumps I help myself keep focused by talking to the team mates and doing that also helps the team to keep in track with the process. It comes in help to the bowlers and even the captains at times. It is not that I am being able to help with everything but there are times my activities do come in use.
Despite the praise and match-winning contributions, you are still to cement a place in the playing XI with Mushfiq and Liton Das set to come back in the next series, against New Zealand next month.
To be honest the competition that we have in the national dressing room now is very healthy. We nowadays have 20-member squad but I feel those playing in the XI are dedicatedly backed by those who are on the bench and feel for the game. This environment is very important for growing up as a good team, as a big team. When the players are wishing each other well despite an intense competition of making it to the playing XI, it is a big positive I think. I am not worried of my place in the playing XI rather I am focused that whenever I am given a chance I will try to deliver my level best, play my role accordingly. But like I said I never put myself under pressure by setting goals to do this or that in a series or set an ambition for the World T20I ahead. Important thing for me is to deliver when the team needs.