ICC World Cup 2011 - Bangladesh's worth successor to Mortaza

If a young fast bowler is being flogged from the word go by a batsman as ruthless as the disdainful Virender Sehwag, it’s only natural that the confidence of the youngster would suffer a serious blow. It’s not easy to recover quickly from such a nightmarish experience.

But 21-year old Shafiul Islam came back strongly after being mauled badly by Sehwag in the World Cup opener. He bowled accurately and incisively against Ireland and the Netherlands. He contributed with the bat as well with a swashbuckling 24 in that epic win over England.

The absence of Mashrafe Mortaza had put tremendous responsibility on Shafiul. But he rose to the challenge than buckle under the weight of expectations. He has thrived under pressure, thanks to his admirable self-belief. Shafiul is not as pacy as Mortaza; his strength lies in his discipline. The ability to swing the bowl is his natural ability since the time he started bowling. But the control that he exercises now wasn’t there in the early days, as a result of which he came in for punishment from the batsmen.

But he is a fast learner. The appointment of Ian Pont as the bowling coach of Bangladesh cricket team has done him world of good. Pont worked on his control during the training sessions and the youngster blossomed under the coach.

Shafiul is now a lethal weapon for Bangladesh. In the ongoing World Cup, he has made the ball talk. Against Ireland he scripted the Irish death with late swing, which has been a new weapon in his bowling armory – not easy art. But he has been a skillful practioner of the art. Against Ireland, he relied on a fuller length and exercised control. The late swing left the Irish clueless.

Against the Dutch, he was at his parsimonious best. He darted the ball in, straightened it outside the off, slipped in yorkers, tried the faster and slower ones… and for all the mix, there weren’t any bad deliveries. But for all his effort, he went wicketless! But he paved the way for Razzak, Shakib and Shuvo to topple the Dutch batsmen. He has ensured that Bangladesh does not feel the absence of Mortaza.

Shafiul has also performed admirably with the bat. At 169 for eight and still 57 runs needed, it was Mission Impossible for him against England. But he systematically tore apart Graeme Swann, hammering him for a four and a six in the 42nd over. His 24 off 24 balls will be etched in gold as Bangladesh went to script what is one of the greatest victories in the history of World Cup. There is no doubt that in Shafiul Bangladesh has found an able successor to Mashrafe Mortaza.

Note: This article has been published in Cricket Country on 17/03/2014 http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/shafiul-islam-bangladeshs-worth-successor-to-mortaza-1265

Thank You

Faisal Caesar