Sadz
July 4, 2007, 02:02 PM
A bright little Shahadat moment
Rabeed Imam
04-July-2007
COLOMBO: Even the most lopsided of cricket matches can become interesting and adrenaline pumping because of an individual on the receiving side, someone like Shahadat Hossain.
Sri Lanka may have declared on 451/6 with a lead of 389 and Bangladeshi batsmen have somehow managed to lose four wickets for 11 after looking a million dollars but if there was a phase in the match where there was a battle won it had to be when Shahadat came back after lunch on day two to get Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene out with a short ball.
“It was very pleasing. I desperately wanted to get that wicket,” Shahadat said and you just needed to remember the fiery stares, the animated chatting, the sarcastic claps and the sharp bouncers when Jayawardene was batting to understand what he meant.
“He is always complaining about my grunts when I deliver the ball. He is the only batsman who has done it. Grunting has been a natural thing for me and helps me release all the effort that goes behind a delivery…if you understand what I mean,” says the fast bowler who is beginning to adapt to the life without those loud ‘huh’s.
“I have been told by umpires that I can’t make any sound when delivering but that has meant my speed has suffered a bit. I am getting used to it but it will take a little time. But today I did not make any sound and still Mahela complained to the umpire when he came out to bat. That charged me up,” said Shahadat who clocked speeds up to 140 kmph today, a definite improvement from yesterday when he was in the 120s most of the time.
“Let’s just say we had a little ‘friendly’ exchange in the middle. He told me stuff and I returned the pleasantries. We have a bit of history which goes back to the last couple of series. I don’t think he is too comfortable batting against me and that’s why he wants to put me under pressure,” was Shahadat’s way of looking at issue. “I didn’t complain to the umpire. These things happen all the time.”
Sri Lanka has been a synonym for nightmare for most Bangladeshi players but here again Shahadat is an exception and 19 of his 25 Test wickets have come against the Lankans in 6 Tests.
“I feel for the batsmen. They are going through a bad patch and it is taking longer for them to come out of it. But believe me we will turn things around. You don’t know how hard we are working and there is bound to be result, there always is. We are not thinking of the outcome in this Test. I would think we have done wonderfully well if we can bat out the day tomorrow and that is not impossible but at 69/4 it is up to us the tailenders to take a lot of responsibility if we are to support a batsman at the other end.”
“We are a much better team and we can play a whole lot better. I have total faith in this team, the coaching staff, everybody. We will turn around and I will get faster, that’s a promise,” said the ultimate team man whose innocence and heart is admired by those around him.
“He gives his everything. His was a boss-like effort today and it inspired the whole team. He made things happen during a very difficult time,” captain Mohammad Ashraful said and amid all the problems in this second Test that Shahadat-led inspiration, no matter how brief, has been precious.
To be honest with you I find this article very encouraging and especially because Shahadot is saying it as he is very open minded and honest and he says what he means. Hope they do bat the whole of tommorrow and without getting all out. That would be an achievement in itself. Insh-allah Mohammad Ashraful will get his century as well as that was one of my expectations in the previous threads.
Rabeed Imam
04-July-2007
COLOMBO: Even the most lopsided of cricket matches can become interesting and adrenaline pumping because of an individual on the receiving side, someone like Shahadat Hossain.
Sri Lanka may have declared on 451/6 with a lead of 389 and Bangladeshi batsmen have somehow managed to lose four wickets for 11 after looking a million dollars but if there was a phase in the match where there was a battle won it had to be when Shahadat came back after lunch on day two to get Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene out with a short ball.
“It was very pleasing. I desperately wanted to get that wicket,” Shahadat said and you just needed to remember the fiery stares, the animated chatting, the sarcastic claps and the sharp bouncers when Jayawardene was batting to understand what he meant.
“He is always complaining about my grunts when I deliver the ball. He is the only batsman who has done it. Grunting has been a natural thing for me and helps me release all the effort that goes behind a delivery…if you understand what I mean,” says the fast bowler who is beginning to adapt to the life without those loud ‘huh’s.
“I have been told by umpires that I can’t make any sound when delivering but that has meant my speed has suffered a bit. I am getting used to it but it will take a little time. But today I did not make any sound and still Mahela complained to the umpire when he came out to bat. That charged me up,” said Shahadat who clocked speeds up to 140 kmph today, a definite improvement from yesterday when he was in the 120s most of the time.
“Let’s just say we had a little ‘friendly’ exchange in the middle. He told me stuff and I returned the pleasantries. We have a bit of history which goes back to the last couple of series. I don’t think he is too comfortable batting against me and that’s why he wants to put me under pressure,” was Shahadat’s way of looking at issue. “I didn’t complain to the umpire. These things happen all the time.”
Sri Lanka has been a synonym for nightmare for most Bangladeshi players but here again Shahadat is an exception and 19 of his 25 Test wickets have come against the Lankans in 6 Tests.
“I feel for the batsmen. They are going through a bad patch and it is taking longer for them to come out of it. But believe me we will turn things around. You don’t know how hard we are working and there is bound to be result, there always is. We are not thinking of the outcome in this Test. I would think we have done wonderfully well if we can bat out the day tomorrow and that is not impossible but at 69/4 it is up to us the tailenders to take a lot of responsibility if we are to support a batsman at the other end.”
“We are a much better team and we can play a whole lot better. I have total faith in this team, the coaching staff, everybody. We will turn around and I will get faster, that’s a promise,” said the ultimate team man whose innocence and heart is admired by those around him.
“He gives his everything. His was a boss-like effort today and it inspired the whole team. He made things happen during a very difficult time,” captain Mohammad Ashraful said and amid all the problems in this second Test that Shahadat-led inspiration, no matter how brief, has been precious.
To be honest with you I find this article very encouraging and especially because Shahadot is saying it as he is very open minded and honest and he says what he means. Hope they do bat the whole of tommorrow and without getting all out. That would be an achievement in itself. Insh-allah Mohammad Ashraful will get his century as well as that was one of my expectations in the previous threads.