Nasir’s inclusion in the Bangladesh squad for the first Test match against Australia, starting on Sunday in Mirpur, has come as a relief to the majority. It is not guaranteed that the right-handed batsman will play his first Test for the Tigers since August, 2015. But if given a chance, the 25-year old will target performing in such a manner so that he can repay the support he had received in abundance from his well-wishers when he was a national discard.National Team practice today at SBNCS ahead of Australia Series pic.twitter.com/KQeCMt4Uz1
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) August 20, 2017
Also read: Nasir prefers batting at No 6
“I am always in the news, does not matter if I play or not. The supporters are happy when I perform. So there is always some pressure on me to be honest. But I feel lucky to have this amount of support and love from Bangladesh cricket supporters. I owe them big for which I will try to perform well for them,” Nasir told the media at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday. Considered one of the wittiest members in the Bangladesh dressing room, Nasir was queried what changed between now and the time when he was sidelined from the Test team two years ago. “It is the moustache,” Nasir replied light-heartedly to the press. “It is normal for an off-form player to get sidelined. He can only return with performance. I always had the intention to perform since I got dropped from the team. I had to rectify many things in my career, both on and off the field. I could have scored many more runs than I have now but I was always casual. Now I intend to stay as long as possible in the wicket and score runs,” the Rangpur lad explained.
Also read: Miraz optimistic with Australia Tests
According to the national selection panel, Nasir has been selected for the first Test squad as a back-up for off-spinning all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz. And given the current scenario with Bangladesh’s batting, Nasir will have to go down the order to bat. “At this point, I think I will need to bat at No 6 or 7. So I will have at least two batsmen after me, followed by the tail-enders. My effort will be to stay on the wicket and score as many runs as possible with the two batsmen and if the bowlers start coming to bat, score as many quick runs as possible. That is my plan for now. I have set my mind that way,” Nasir explained.
