ZCZC
BSP-23
CRICKET-GIBSON-SABBIR
Lack of clear thinking key to Sabbir’s failure: Gibson
DHAKA, Jan 6, 2020 (BSS) – Cumilla Warriors head coach Otis Gibson believes the lack of clear thinking while playing his shot hindered Sabbir Rahman’s progress in the competitive cricket.
Touted as one of the talented batsmen in the country, Sabbir Rahman couldn’t quite live up to the expectation and paid the price of being axed from the national team.
Still he was expected to be one of the major stars in the ongoing Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL), considering the fact that he is known to be a T20 specialist due to his ability for stroke making.
However his performance does not fit the billing in the tournament as he scored 142 runs in nine matches with an average of 15.97.
”I don’t know [why he is failing], he practices very well,” Gibson said here today.
”I think he sometimes lack a bit of clear thinking, does not think clear enough sometimes, he does not give him enough time to prepare the shots that he knows he can play,” he explained.
He continued: ”And it is frustrating for us and him as well because he is national player. He is capable of a lot better than he has shown in the tournament.”
Downhill trend of Sabbir’s performance is one of the reasons that Cumilla Warriors was left in fifth place in the BBPL point table with eight points from nine matches. They now need to win all of the three matches if they want to ensure the play-off phase.
Gibson said that he still feels they have a chance to go a long way in the tournament.
”We have given ourselves a great opportunity to do well. We got three more games. Sylhet has not had the best tournament,” said Gibson.
”So tomorrow against them, maybe another good opportunity to get a win and the last two games, against Khulna, if we beat Khulna twice, maybe we take over them and get ourselves in the semi-final zone. And from the beginning we are aiming to do,” he said.
However Cumilla will get the service of Dawid Malan tomorrow (Tuesday) when they take on Sylhet Thunder. Malan, the best batsman of the team, had flown to England for family emergency but returned to Bangladesh yesterday.
Gibson insisted that the return of Dawid Malan will give them huge boost.
”It is a big thing for us because he is our best player. He has been the best batsman in the tournament. And to have the commitment he has shown to come back means you know what it is. He is in good form first of all. It means he is committed to help us to get into the semi-final and that is important,” he said.
BSS/SMP/SMM/1925 hrs