Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - Taskin gears up for T20 WC challenge after 2019 heartbreak. Taskin will hope for a good outing in the upcoming T20 WC.
Taskin will hope for a good outing in the upcoming T20 WC.
Bangladesh's Taskin Ahmed has had rather bitter-sweet memories of World Cups.
The right-arm pace bowler started his T20I career against Australia in the 2014 T20 WC at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium and was immediately in the limelight with economic figures of 1-24 from his four overs. In the following year, he became an integral part of Bangladesh's pace unit, led by Mashrafe Mortaza and played a key role in the team's success at the global platform.
Taskin was expected to do the same when Bangladesh was competing in the 2016 edition in India, but had to quit the competition midway after his action was reported. Taskin then faded away following his remodeled bowling action. Coupled with injuries, his form dipped to an extent that he was nowhere in the national reckoning anymore.
In 2019, Taskin came close to earning a World Cup spot after decent performances in the domestic circuit but had to bear rejection considering he sustained injuries and the team management was not ready to take any chance. He was left teary-eyed after the team was announced as he felt he was ready to go and that emotional affair in front of the media had such an impact that it made it into the first page of all the leading dailies.
Taskin made a drastic improvement following that setback and now seems to be reaping the rewards of hard work as they are gearing up for another World Cup, scheduled to begin in Oman and UAE next month.
“I don't live in the past,” Taskin told Cricbuzz. “It's disappointing (not to play in those World Cups) but I cannot change it and don't want to lose my sleep over it. Basically I don't want to remember the past and I want to look forward,” added the 26-year-old.
Taskin, who featured in the T20 series against Zimbabwe but failed to retain his spot in Dhaka against Australia and New Zealand due to the slow nature of the wickets, said that he is excited to be part of the World Cup journey and will be backing his strengths at the event if he manages to make it to the playing XI.
“I am really excited to make the World Cup team though I have not played in Oman and Dubai so far,” he said. “I didn't play the last two series due to the conditions but I was able to play the last game.
“I think the mental shift is very important because of the wicket that we played on here and the wicket that we are expected to have in the T20 WC will be different. I will try to back my strength that is bowling over 140kmph and hit the seam on the right spot, and if the wicket is favourable then it will certainly work.”
Bangladesh are set to travel to Oman in early October for a preparation camp as the tourists will first have to play in the Round One of the competition to earn their spot in the main event. Bangladesh have been slotted in Group B and will contest against Oman, Papua New Guinea and Scotland. Group A consists of Ireland, Netherlands, Namibia and Sri Lanka.
“We will be getting around 10 days to adapt there and prepare while we will be playing three T20 practice games and we are looking forward to it. Whatever the conditions are, we have to play according to it. When the wicket is not assisting cutters at that point the length ball and the yorker becomes very important. It will be an ICC event so we have to keep in mind that it will be sporting or flat track. It will be challenging for the bowlers but at the same time if we can execute our plans we will have a chance,” Taskin noted.
