The whole world stepped into a new year today. And for everyone related with Bangladesh cricket, 2015 promises to be a challenging year.
The third biggest sporting extravaganza after the Fifa World Cup and the Olympics and the most attractive cricket event, the ICC World Cup, is slated for Australia-New Zealand on February-March.
Right after the global showpiece competition, the Tigers will barely have any time to rest on their laurels as they will entertain Pakistan, India, South Africa and Australia in bilateral series – all scheduled to be held in Bangladesh.
With such a challenging year ahead, the senior members of the Tigers contingent have a tough task in their hands. Simultaneously, the Tigers’ young brigade will also look to chip in with their contributions.
Although 2014 was a disappointing year for the Tigers with the exception of the home series against Zimbabwe, the youngsters performed admirably with as many as six cricketers making their bow in international cricket.
And ahead of so many formidable challenges, three young Tigers, despite their tender ages, are expected to play their part in three key departments.
Right-arm paceman Al Amin Hossain is one of them.
The 24-year old cricketer from Jhenaidah experienced mixed fortunes in 2014. Even though he bagged five wickets in as many Tests, 17 wickets in 11 ODIs and 10 wickets in eight Twenty20 Internationals, his confidence took a pounding as his bowling action was deemed to be illegal by the International Cricket Council (ICC). One positive though was the completion of his Honors degree from Rajshahi University.
As one of the spearheads of the Tigers’ bowling department, Al Amin will have to play a crucial role this year. With his bowling action recently cleared by the ICC and his studies completed, the paceman is now looking forward to an event-filled 2015.
“I personally think 2014 was a good year for me. I completed my Honors degree, performed in the [ICC] World T20 and the tour of the West Indies. So, I am quite a happy man,” Al Amin told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
“One advantage I will have is that I will not have to worry about studies anymore. All I will think about is cricket. The past few months were really tough for me due to the exams. I had to miss the Zimbabwe series. So yes, I am quite relieved having completed my studies,” he added.
The batting department, meanwhile, contains a calming presence in the diminutive Mominul Haque.
The 23-year old cricketer from the coastal town of Cox’s Bazar was the most successful Tigers batsman last year in five-day cricket. The little master topped the run-scorers’ chart with 614 runs in 14 innings.
His form in 50-over cricket was a letdown though, especially by his own high standards. Mominul garnered 334 runs in 12 ODIs at an average of 30.36.
With so many ODIs scheduled for this year, Mominul’s new year’s resolution is to better his average in one-day cricket.
“I want to improve my average in ODIs and also mend the mistakes in my batting technique,” Mominul told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
The left-handed batsman will have his work cut out. Bangladesh’s opponents in the upcoming World Cup are England, Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Scotland.
Mominul though said he is not losing any sleep thinking about the might of the opposition.
“It’s usual. Things are always tough against big opponents. I do not think big or small opponents are a factor. What matters to me is that all the series and all the games are important. We have the World Cup up ahead and teams like Australia and South Africa are touring our country. So, I will have to work hard and prepare myself for that,” he added.
The third member of the young brigade is none other than 19-year old leg-spinner Jubair Hossain. The right-arm leggie was one of the six debutants last year.
Following his impressive performances in Bangladesh A’s home series against their Zimbabwean counterparts, the cricketer from Jamalpur was drafted to the national side for the year-end series against Zimbabwe.
Despite his lack of experience in the first-class arena, Jubair gave an excellent account of himself in the Zimbabwe series, registering his maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings of the third Test against the Southern African nation. The country’s first specialist leggie, Jubair is expecting more of the same in 2015.
“I had a fair year. 2015 will be tough as there will be big opponents but I will try to hold onto the performance of the Zimbabwe series. I also want to cement my place in all formats of the game,” Jubair told Dhaka Tribune yesterday. Despite being a novice of three Tests and two ODIs, Jubair is well capable of handling the weight of expectations of a whole nation.
