National off-spinner Sohag Gazi had a pretty decent time at the Cardiff Metropolitan University Laboratory, England where he had his bowling action tested on September 19. He returned home on Saturday.
“I am not worried. I am hopeful of getting the clearance soon,” said Gazi to Dhaka Tribune yesterday. “I bowled six overs, three from either side of the wicket, and I don’t think I have anything to worry about.”
Gazi was reported by match officials with a suspected bowling action during the second ODI of the recently concluded three-match away series against the West Indies.
“They had the video of that match and asked me to bowl exactly the same way. That’s when I said that it is not possible since the situation during a match is different – the foot or hand of a bowler sometimes differs within the match, caused by tiredness mainly.
“I bowled my regular deliveries, the carrom ball and they seemed satisfied with it,” said Gazi, the first and only cricketer to score a hundred and take a hat-trick in the same Test match.
The 23-year old broke in to the national circuit two years back and has been an integral part of the Bangladesh cricket team set-up since then. But he became the fifth bowler - and the fifth off-spinner - to have been reported for a suspect action in recent times.
For a cricketer who struggled in his teens and came this far solely riding on magical bowling figures in the domestic first-class arena, where he has 1614 runs and 167 wickets after 37 matches, this was a very different experience. However, he wasn’t the only one attending the test, as “(Prosper) Utseya (of Zimbabwe) was there too. He gave the test after me.”
“There were 18 cameras capturing my footage from every possible angle. It seemed so unreal for a moment, but I was relaxed.”
This was the first time he travelled alone to such a destination and considering how he would cope mentally with everything, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was kind enough to have Shahidul Islam Ratan, former coach of the BCB and the Malaysian Cricket Association and now working as the development manager of London Capital Kids Cricket, assist Gazi.
“The presence of Ratan sir was very comforting. It helped me a lot,” he said.
Gazi, who reached London on Thursday, had just one-and-a-half hours after completing the test to catch the train from Cardiff to London airport. He hurried back but was also eager to know when the results will come out.
“They said it will take some time, but I will be allowed to play in the meantime. So it is great for me because I want to play. We have some international duties coming up and I am hopeful of continuing my duty with the national team,” expressed Gazi who played 10 Tests, 20 ODIs and nine Twenty20Is.
Meanwhile, a player of the “pool” in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, Gazi is yet to confirm a team. He has been linked with Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited, Brothers Union and Kalabagan KC. Generally considered a good all-rounder in the domestic circuit, Gazi informed he is still unsure where his destination lies in the premier league.
