‘I can increase pace by building up muscles’

Here, the paceman, an employee of the Bangladesh Air Force, mingled with the cricketers who have played more professional cricket than him. But that did not held Ibadat back from grabbing the best out from the opportunity which he got among thousands of other competitors. Ibadat had clocked a speed of 139km/h during the pacer hunt and had caught the attention of the coaches. But that of course was not enough as he had to go through another camp on fitness and skill. Only satisfactory development there made the pacers hunt management award Ibadat a spot in the HP squad. For the past week, Ibadat worked under former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed in a special programme for the pacers. “Aaqib worked with our pace and run-up on the first day. He explained to us as to how we can increase our pace. Then he taught us swing, variation and reverse swing on the last day. He couldn’t gauge my pace after seeing my body structure. He said I lack physical strength but I can increase my pace by building up my muscles,” Ibadat told the media at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. A permanent employee of the Air Force, Ibadat through the HP experience understood the importance of keeping in touch with the game in order to develop and compete. “I have a job in Bangladesh Air Force and they have been positive about me whenever I have needed a leave to play cricket. I will take a letter from here so that I can come back regularly to do my gym work with the trainers and keep raising my fitness,” he said. “My squadron officer told me that no matter how big a cricketer you become, you will always be with the Air Force. I came this far thanks to the Air Force,” he added.