Keeping for future

[Nasif]

What happened to Anwar and Selim?

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Keeping for future
Sports Reporter

Wicketkeeping nowadays is no longer just standing behind the stumps and waiting to take anything that beats the batsman or play the role of a cheerleader.

It is probably the most demanding position in a cricket team. The stumper will only have to take anything that comes his way but his captain also expects him to contribute with the bat if he is to keep his place.


Combining batting with the art of keeping has led to the decline of skilled glovesmen in international cricket.

For Bangladesh, the newest member of the Test cricket club, the problem is even bigger. Khaled Mashud is the lone man doing the job over a decade and still nobody has stepped up to challenge the doughty Rajshahi cricketer.

There were a few names that came and went. It was only recently the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) realised that they desperately need somebody to fit into the 32-year-old's gloves.


So it was of little surprise they turned to an Australian, Andrew Selff, for help.

And the Queenslander was quick to suggest there was one who could be a future Bangladesh wicket-keeper.

"Some of them were very good but only Mushfiqur Rahman can put pressure on Mashud. He is skilled and his performance was very high. Two or three years may be and he would be ready for the Test level," said the 32-year-old Queenslander who began his coaching career at 21.


He made the observation after conducting a six-day camp at the BKSP in Savar that featured three Under-17 players and four from the high performance unit.

Talking to The Daily Star Sport at the BCB's Gulshan office yesterday, Selff told that he has found the 'second best' wicketkeeper in the country and two more potential candidates.


Mushfiq, who hails from Bogra, is a BKSP student and captained Bangladesh Under-15 team in the West Bengal tour recently.


"There are a couple with good standard, but I think they would need four or five years to make it to the top level."

Ashiqur Rahman and Sagir Hossain Pavel were the others who impressed Selff, who concentrated mostly on developing skill, catching and positioning in the short-term camp. He also stressed on the importance of batting, which has become a criteria for selection.


"It is a very demanding job. A player needs stamina, a lot of strength in his legs, he has to concentrate on every ball. They have to be strong and fit so that it does not effect the mental side of it. When they are not strong and fit, the mental thing comes into play," Selff added.


"They also have be vocal but I told them when to talk and when not to. They have to learn to switch off between balls.


Selff admitted that the standard of wicketkeeping in the world is falling. Most of the teams except Australia have changed them now and again.


"But I think after Adam Gilchrist showed his prowess with the bat, most of the teams are trying to get a copy of him. That's why we have seen batsmen who can keep or keepers who can bat instead of taking a specialist keeper.


"I think Australia is lucky to have an all-rounder like Gilchrist to replace Ian Healy. To me he is the best wicketkeeper-batsman but Wade Seccombe of Queensland is a better wicketkeepers than him. He just fell behind because of his batting.


"It is proven that if wicketkeepers can't bat, they have no chance. I have told this to the boys here. It is a part of the game and one should not feel any extra pressure for this.


Selff, who did not see the seven boys batting much in the six days, said Mushfiq is pretty good with the willow although Pavel seems to be the best of the bunch with the bat.


"Mushfiq is only 15 or 16. He has a lot of time to work on it."

Andrew Selff will leave Dhaka on Sunday.

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Source: Dailystar