ZCZC
BSP-17
CRICKET-ZAHIR-AFG
Afghan spin sensation Zahir prepares to ruin Tigers party
CHATTOGRAM, September 3, 2019 (BSS) – After his five-wicket haul in the two-day warm-up match against BCB XI, Afghanistan young spin sensation Zahir Khan is confident of making a deadly spin attack with the likes of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi in the one-off Test match against Bangladesh, starting on Thursday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here.
While Bangladesh is believed to form a four-pronged spin attack, Afghanistan looks to counter with it, unleashing four spinners also with leg-spinner Qais Ahmed expected to join with Zahir, Rashid and Nabi.
Visiting with Afghanistan A side, Qais tormented Bangladesh A, comprised mostly with the national players in two-match four-day series in last July. But in practice match, Qais bowled just two overs as it looked Afghanistan skipper Rashid wants to hide him.
However Afghanistan gained the psychological edge, having dismissed BCB XI for just 123 runs with spinners-skipper Rashid Khan himself and left-arm spinner Zahir Khan sharing eight wickets between them before the match settled for a draw.
The 20-year old Zahir Khan who is yet to make his Test debut was particularly impressive, claiming 5-24, that broke the spine of BCB XI batsmen. Rashid Khan grabbed 3-26 with his leg-spin.
”Yes, as you see we got very good spinners like Rashid Khan, Mohmmad Nabi and myself. I’m very confident that we will bowl very well and people will enjoy the game,” Zahir said on Monday after the practice match.
”This will be a very good match. We had very good preparation for this. And we got very good experience on Test cricket. So I’m sure it will be a very good match,” he said adding that he is excited to perform here in the span of small duration.
”I’m very excited. This is a very good chance for me. Bangladesh is number eight team in international cricket. I will be so happy to play this match.”
Zahir’s long run-up however created confusion in the practice match that whether he is a medium pacer of slow left arm spinner. But he quelled the confusion saying that he is a chinaman bowler and not a medium pacer despite taking long run-up.
”I started my bowling with same run up since early days. I’m a chinaman bowler. And I can control my pace. This is very good pace as a spinner,” he concluded.
BSS/SMP/SMM/1530 hrs