Bangladesh spinner Miraz to seek Ashwin’s advice
dhaka — Young spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz is planning to ask for a slice of wisdom from India’s star tweaker Ravichandran Ashwin during Bangladeshs India tour.
The teenager is aiming for a spot in the playing eleven in the one-off Test against the top-ranked Test nation, which will begin on February 9 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, reports bdnews24.com.
Ashwin is the leading Test spinner at the moment, and also the top all-rounder in the format.
“Ashwin is a world class cricketer. I’m looking forward to consult him to get some tips after the game,” Miraz said before Bangladesh flew off to Hyderabad on Thursday.
“And I will be able to see up close how he bowls during a match. That experience will be very useful for me,” he said. “We have many fine spinners with experience in our team. I am also there with Shakib and Taijul. We have to be consistent in India. They have very good batsmen, but if we can bowl in the right areas, it will be possible to get a good (result).”
Taijul, on the other hand, did not play any match on the New Zealand tour despite being in the squad. He may get a place in the playing eleven in India.
He went wicketless for 85 runs in 20 overs in the one-off Test against India in mid-2015 at Fatullah. The 24-year-old southpaw is keen to test the hosts if he gets the opportunity again.
“The Fatullah game was played on a flat wicket. India’s batting lineup is quite long and they are good against spin,” he said. “Hopefully, we will be able to produce something good if we bowl in the right places this time. Getting assistance from the track will be a bonus.”
“We have good spinners in our team now. Miraz, Shakib and the others are all good. If the track in India is a spinning one, our spinners will surely (make good use of it),” he added.
Recovery of skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, opener Imrul Kayes and top order batsman Mominul Haque, all of whom had missed the second Test against New Zealand through injuries, has boosted their confidence, Taijul added.
Paceman Subashis Roy is not thinking about getting a spot in the playing eleven, but he is keen to earn the scalp of India skipper Virat Kohli if he gets the opportunity. —