DHAKA, May 16, 2019 (BSS) – Despite being included in the Bangladesh’s 15-member squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup, pacer Abu Jayed Rahi’s place looked vulnerable when Taskin Ahmed was included in the side for the tri-series in Ireland.
Rahi was included into the World Cup-bound squad because of the injury of Taskin Ahmed as the selectors were not satisfied with his post-injury match-fitness. After being World Cup-snubbed, Taskin couldn’t hold his tears which did not take long to get viral in the Facebook and other social media outlets.
As a result Rahi turned out to be a villain in disguise of a hero. The inclusion of Taskin in the Ireland bound team at the last minute only complicated things considering BCB have the chance to make a change in the World Cup squad till May 23.
The social media again went vibrant when Taskin took three wickets in the warm-up game and Rahi failed to impress on his debut despite he bowled according to his strength- bowling up on consistent basis in search of the swing that is considered his major area of expertise.
In between the BCB president also hinted Taskin’s inclusion in the World Cup, making the life difficult for Rahi. But the young pacer kept his composure and hit back with bang in his only second match. He gave the statement about his talent and ability by picking up 5-58 that prevented Ireland from going past 300 plus total and helped Bangladesh script yet another dominant victory.
With his performance, he paid off the faith the team management kept on him and most importantly he can be assured that his place is the World Cup squad is quite secured despite his status in the social media.
”There were a lot of talks going around (in the social media). Mashrafe bhai just told me that if you can handle the pressure of social media than stay or else quit,” Rahi told reporters when his attention was drawn regarding the drama surrounded him in the last couple of days.
“I felt pressure on my debut match but today there was no pressure,” he said.
”Mashrafe vai told me to bowl my heart out (against Ireland) and I bowled the way I bowled in Dhaka Premier League or in the Bangladesh Premier League,” he said.
”He asked me to bowl without having any kind of doubt or fear and I just tried to follow his instruction,” he said.
Rahi is well aware that he has a long way to go and he also knows unless he comes up with these kinds of performances he is unlikely to become a permanent fixture in the ODI set-up like the way he had established himself in Test.
”Certainly I have gained confidence (through this performance) but I know I still have a long way to go still,” he said.
Rahi however dedicates his five-for to his mother.
”My mother always remains tensed about me because I am the youngest child of the family. As she is always worried about me I am dedicating my maiden five-wicket haul to her,” he concluded.