Rishad Hossain emerged as the first specialist leg-spinner to play a World Cup game for Bangladesh when he took the field for the Red and Green against Sri Lanka Saturday [BST].
The 21-year old marked the occasion playing a major part in restricting the Lankans to a moderate score in the Group D fixture in the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.
Only Alok Kapali had bowled some wrist spin for Bangladesh in a world event, in the Cricket World Cup 2003, but his inclusion in the squad was as a batter.
Leg-spinner Rishad was named player of the match for his three wickets in the game at the cost of just 22 runs in four overs on a surface that had a little help for the bowlers.
He struck twice in consecutive balls in the 15th over to turn the game towards Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka were 100 for three in 14 overs and Rishad, bowling his third over, in the first delivery removed Charith Asalanka [19].
The left-handed Sri Lanka batter went for a big slog sweep towards the longer boundary and was picked out by Shakib al Hasan at deep backward square.
The ball was tossed full outside off and Asalanka had lifted it off the toe end.
In the second ball of the over, Rishad found wicket number two in captain Wanindu Hasaranga.
The Sri Lanka skipper was removed for a golden duck playing a full delivery around leg.
Hasaranga had attempted to tuck the ball on the leg side but instead fell for an edge as the ball popped to Soumya Sarkar at the slip cordon.
Rishad returned an over later and deepened Sri Lanka’s misery.
The Rangpur lad bowled a ripper off the first ball to get Dhananjaya de Silva dismissed for 21.
The ball placed on a length around middle spun away sharply as the batter got forward with the intention to slog.
But the missed contact saw wicket-keeper Liton Das quickly disturb the stumps with De Silva's back foot outside the crease to leave the Island nation reeling on 109 for six.
Despite a strong start, Sri Lanka could post just 124 on the board in 20 overs losing nine wickets.
“I am happy to get the player of the match in my first World Cup game. I tried to read the wicket early and bowl accordingly. There was no fear but full focus was to get a wicket and turn the game,” said Rishad to the media following the match.
Off the three scalps, Rishad informed that he enjoyed the dismissal of Hasaranga the most.
Rishad’s journey to the national team and now T20 World Cup shall be inspiring to the hidden wrist spinners of the country, given the tendency that prevails in the cricketing circuit.
The backward mindset on the wrist spinners has hindered this particular skill big time and as a result there has been only two genuine leg-spinners to play for Bangladesh between 1988 and the start of 2023.
Wahidul Gani played a single One Day International for Bangladesh in 1988 while Jubair Hossain Likhon contested 10 international matches between 2014 and 2015.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board from time to time has been vocal on developing this talent.
There have been occasions when the policy makers in the BCB urged the domestic competitions to support the leg-spin talents, but that has often fallen on deaf ears.
BCB last month organized a camp with 20 aspiring leg-spinners found from a talent hunt organized by BCB game development department.
Alongside teachings from local coaches, the promising bowlers got to attend session with former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed who has recently joined the Bangladesh national coaching set-up.
“I had no pressure when we got Rishad to the attack. There was no concern at all whether the batters are left- or right-handed as we knew he can bowl well and get wickets for the team. Finally, it is good to see Bangladesh team getting a leg-spinner who has made his place in the front and the way he is playing, I hope he will go a long way,” said Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto after the game at the Grand Prairie.
