Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed aims to make him available in the super league phase of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) as he is confident enough to regain his fitness within short time.
The lanky fast bowler starts bowling from today, albeit with short run up after two and half months, a thing that he termed as the first step towards his ambition to play competitive cricket again.
Taskin sustained an ankle injury during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 in which he claimed 22 wickets from 12 matches to be the second highest wicket-taker.
“After two and months, I was able to start bowling, which is good thing for me. I am really feeling good,” Taskin said here on Thursday.
“The physio and the BCB medical team are looking after me. They have taken some fitness test to see my recovery process. By the grace of Allah, I have proved my fitness in all tests after which they allowed me to start bowling. I have to go through a process actually. If I need not that fitness test, I could have started bowling earlier. But since it’s a process, I have to comply with that.”
Taskin was probably in the form of his life in BPL which forced his way back into the national team as Bangladesh announced a team for the series against New Zealand during the halfway through the BPL tournament.
However that unfortunate ankle injury in the last group match of BPL sidelined him for a couple of months and ruined his hope to thrive in New Zealand condition but he is not ready to give up the hopes as his ultimate goal is to play ICC Cricket World up.
“I bowled five overs in a row today, albeit with short run up. The intensity will be grown as the time progresses. But the physio advises me to take a gap for a day. I will rest in the next day then will bowl again day after tomorrow. Hopefully I can play the DPL from super league phase. However it will depend on the improvement of my condition.”
Before the World Cup, Bangladesh will play a tri-nation series in Ireland, which also involves West Indies and host Ireland. If Taskin can start bowling during the DPL and replicate the performance of BPL, there is no doubt that he will make a comeback in that series because the head coach Steve Rhodes and captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza are keen to see him in the squad given the fact that the Irish and English condition will suit his bowling.
Taskin admits, playing International match after long injury lay-off will be challenging but he is ready to grab the opportunity with both hands.
“Everyday is a challenging day for cricket. The reality is I haven’t been in the national team for almost one year due to various injuries. But I am motivated enough to play well,” he said.
