‘Bowling in right areas more important than pace’

The Bangladesh team pace bowlers will try to bowl in the right areas rather than go for extra pace during their campaign in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, claimed pace-duo Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain on Saturday. Both pacers, regarded as the front runners to bear the burden of Tigers pace department, made the observation after taking a close look at Australian conditions and the wickets by watching matches played in Australia in the recent past. ‘From what we have seen in the Big Bash or the Australia-India Test series, the batsmen are able to play well when the ball is not pitched in the right areas,’ Taskin told reporters on Saturday. ‘We have to get the basics right,’ said Taskin. ‘I will have to bowl fast. But pace is not enough in these times. I have to bowl a good line and length and use variation,’ said Taskin. Al-Amin acknowledged Taskin’s observations and said his raw pace would not be good enough to create an impact Down Under. ‘My strength is the out-swinger I bowl after a number of in-swingers. I am working on those at the moment,’ said Al-Amin.

‘Pace is not much of a factor there,’ Al Amin said. ‘I want to bowl stump-to-stump at my pace, which is around 130kph. I am working hard on swinging and cutting the ball,’ he said. Both the youngsters were excited to be part of the World Cup squad, considering their previous fitness and form, and said they had put all that behind them and were ready to fire on all cylinders. Taskin sustained a strain on his rib cage during a game at the Acharya Memorial Challenger Trophy in Kolktata in November and was unable to participate in the home series against Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Al-Amin’s bowling action was scrutinised by the ICC after it was found illegal during the West Indies tour in September. Al-Amin was cleared later though he could not concentrate fully in cricket to pursue his education commitments. His form was also looking to be a concern after failing in the Zimbabwe series. Taskin said that he is looking to hog the limelight by putting on an impressive display in the competition as he is fully confident about his fitness level after successfully completing the Dhaka Premier League campaign. ‘Actually the Dhaka Premier League was my test on whether I would be able to stay fit playing all the matches.’ ‘I will give my best shot and try to become a subject of discussion. I want people to say that this fast bowler from Bangladesh is impressive.’ ‘Wickets are a matter of luck as well. I will try to get among the top ten wicket-takers and bowl at a high pace. We are bowling in the nets besides spot-bowling. It is adding to a tight practice session, which I believe will help us,’ said Taskin. Al Amin added that he is looking forward to a commendable performance as he is quite confident of coming out of the poor patch. ‘I was injured, I had my fourth year final exam and the action – it was a combination of three to four things. Plus I think my fitness wasn’t up to the level I had wanted, so maybe that’s why the performance wasn’t at that level too.’ ‘I have been bowling well in the last 12 months so maybe there is some expectation on me. I played poorly in one game against Zimbabwe.’ ‘I don’t indulge in criticism and I would like to prove myself in the World Cup,’ said Al-Amin.

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