All was doom and
gloom
The result of third One-day International (ODI) was a
foregone conclusion. Bangladesh failed to break the jinx in New Zealand and
digested a whitewash in a bilateral ODI series yet again. Ten years ago, such a
result could have been digested easily, but right now, Bangladesh are expected
to put up a fighting display and win matches. Keeping in mind the improvement
of Tigers, such an expectation is not like building castles in dreams.
Sadly, the outcome of the 3-match ODI series had been a
repeat of previous ones. Amid the frustrating displays from the Bangladesh
batsmen and bowlers, there had been few positives to watch out for.
Mohammad Mithun’s composure at number 6 has given Bangladesh
think tank a new ray of hope, while the return of Sabbir Rahman back to form
has not only been encouraging, but this series could be regarded as one of his
career-saving ones.
For the last couple of years Sabbir created a lot of noise
off the field. His disciplinary issues hampered his progress to a greater
extent. Last year, his inappropriate behaviour with two fans on social media
triggered a massive controversy, which prompted Bangladesh Cricket Board
Officials to take strong against him. The incident happened while he is serving
a punishment for physically assaulting a child during a first-class game in
December 2017. Again, he had been in trouble over disciplinary reason in past
also, with the BCB fining him in 2016 for "serious off-field disciplinary
breaches" during a domestic Twenty20 League.
Meanwhile, Sabbir’s form was quite poor as well. His bat was
not talking and then, such inappropriate off-the-field-behaviours had put him
in the hot soup. He was axed from the ODI squad during last year’s Asia Cup in
the Middle East, stripped off from a central contract and then handed a
six-month ban from international cricket, which meant he would miss the home
series against Zimbabwe, West Indies and upcoming New Zealand tour.
Sabbir’s cricketing future looked bleak and it was pretty
frustrating to see the woeful state of such a talented cricketer. Not so long
ago Sabbir was the heartthrob of Bangladesh, but so quickly his star status had
taken a severe blow. In such a competitive era, it is also very difficult to fight
back and cement a place in the team. That smiling boy with charming eyes like a
kitten blessed with the ability to time the ball better than any of his
colleagues seemed to face the fate of previous talented customers in Bangladesh
cricket, who faded all of a sudden.
Sabbir’s presence could be felt in the domestic arena of
Bangladesh, but by then, Bangladesh started to forget him and move on.
But there is always a
second chance…….
There is always a second chance in life and for which, a
slice of luck is needed. Bangladesh announced the ODI and Test squad for New
Zealand tour, where Sabbir’s name was seen. It came as a surprise to many as
Sabbir was serving a ban. According to various reports, his selection was part
of a miscommunication between the chief selector Minhajul Abedin, captain
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Bangladesh Cricket Board’s Boss Nazmul Hassan.
“This is his last chance. If he does the same thing again,
he will get a life ban. I felt that maybe he would have done better had he
taken more time to return. Now it is very risky for him. A small mistake can
destroy his career,” said Nazmul Hassan while speaking to reporters about
Sabbir on Januray 29, 2019.
The pressure on the young man was immense, but when pressure
helps a cricketer to deliver the best, one has to realise about his tough
temperament. Pressure did not melt Sabbir, but it acted as a catalyst to
rejuvenate him. He got the opportunity to play in ODI series against New
Zealand as Mashrafe wanted someone to score quickly at number seven and in
Sabbir he witnessed such qualities.
Mash said, “I want a 15-ball 25 or a 20-ball 35 from my No
7. Imagine who he will be facing at the World Cup - Starc, Cummins, Bumrah,
Shami, Bhuvneshwar, Rabada, Steyn, Woakes, Stokes, Boult, Southee, Hasan Ali or
Amir. Give me one batsman who can play shots with power or improvise against
these bowlers. I think Sabbir has the ability.”
Sabbir repays the
faith……
In the first ODI at Napier Sabbir fired blanks and in the
second he gave evidence of coming back to form. While in third, it was time to
enjoy the class of this boy from Rajshahi. Bangladesh were reeling at 40 for 4
in response to New Zealand’s 330 for 6 in 50 overs. A heavy defeat was on the
cards, but Sabbir decided to hit-back rather than getting peppered by the
rampant pace attack of New Zealand.
The kitten-eyes were focused – watched every ball closely
from release point, the feet moved well with initial-triggered movement on the
back foot, body went behind the line of the ball quickly, the wrists seemed
wrapped with silk and that pristine timing was back. Even when he attacked, it
was cultured enough rather than a blind-whack, which indicated, how hard he
worked to improve his game while being in the wilderness. Most
importantly, he showed the temperament to stay at the crease and put a price
tag on his wicket. Certainly, the Rajshahi-lad is not going to give up easily
but is determined to answer his critics in style.
As soon as he reached his hundred, he celebrated with a
“bat-does-the-talking” gesture, which was understandable from a lad, who has
gone through so much over the past few years. Some of his critics did not like
it and even they are pretty reluctant to recognize the class of Sabbir after
this hundred. Such a hundred from a lad, whose career was on the line, deserves
encouragement and not an underestimation.
That’s where the problem lies in Bangladesh. The so-called
celebrated experts and critics are obsessed with personal favourites and if
they don’t like someone, they try their level best to drag him down no matter
how talented he is! Sabbir has his faults, but one must also think, did he
receive enough support to rectify himself from these critics, who are always after
his head? Did these critics ever try to understand; Sabbir is sort of a flawed
genius and needs to be handled carefully?
Such critics never understood what Shakib Al Hasan is and
always tried to drag him down and even they don’t have the eye to recognize
Sabbir’s class as because these critics are biased.
Thankfully, someone like Mashrafe was there to recognise
Sabbir's true value.
"I am thankful to Mashrafe bhai and to every single
individual who had supported me through thick and thin. Their moral support was
extremely helpful during the past. I dedicate my century to my father and
mother as they were beside me all through when I was passing through some
torrid time due to all the things that had happened during the last couple of
months," he said after the match.
Let Sabbir’s bat talk
more…..
The back-to-back satisfactory performances should not fade
like the early morning mist, but Sabbir should maintain his consistency to help
Bangladesh cricket move forward. He must understand about the talent he has
been gifted by God and thus learn to manage it accordingly rather than falling
to traps set by his critics. The focus should remain only improving more and
nothing else.
Note: This article has been posted in Cricketsoccer on 20/02/2019 Sabbir Rahman repays the faith
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
No comments:
Post a Comment