Tigers confident of facing any challenge: Rabbi
Sports Reporter
The way Bangladesh are growing up day by day as fast bowler Kamrul Islam Rabbi believes they could take challenge against any team across the world regardless of wickets and conditions.
As a team wise, we can give tough fight against any team across the world. None can say that Bangladesh is a minnows or underdog, said Kamrul Islam, who played so far five Tests for Bangladesh after stepping into Test arc in 2016.
It may be theyre ahead of us in term of points and ratings. But were now progressing day by day. I think, there is no similarity with wickets. The wickets of the England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are bouncy and pace friendly. But some of our players the likes of Shakib bhai struck double hundred and Mushfiq bhai smashed 150 on the bouncy wickets, Rabbi told reports after the end of their second day practice session yesterday.
On that sort of decks if our opponent could bowl and make more runs, then we will also bowl and score more runs. Actually its a matter of feeling. If we could feel that we could do well at any condition, we could then do well what weve proved in many occasions, he added.
Assistant coach Richard Halsall and Physio Thihan Chandramohan were seen with Courtney Walsh beside the local coaching staffs of Mizanur Rahman, Sohel Islam and Baijadul Islam. They all watched bowling of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Rabbi, Rubel Hossain coupled with Nurul Hasan, Sunzamul Islam and Anamul Haque Bijoy, who firstly joined the practice session.
With regrets the paceman said that they could not get result in New Zealand after playing better cricket but this time their players will do better result against the South Africa. The 25-year-old bowler said that for this the pace battery they have in the team could have to fight with the pace of the other teams bowlers.
As a team, were moving ahead, at the same time, as a pace department were also moving forward. In past, wed less number of pace bowlers. But now weve so many pace bowlers in the pipeline beside the national fold. There is huge competition among the pace bowlers, Barisal-born pacer said.
I think weve five to seven pace bowlers, who have every capability to play match. Theyre now playing at different formats of games, he told.
Kamrul, who toured twice in South Africa with Bangladesh A team in 2011 and 2015, said that the pacers have to take responsibility on bouncy wicket what spinners took at home yard and if they could do it the result will since be well.
Weve to take challenge in every case of match and session after session, he said.
At home turf, spinners are cutting good figure or will do better in future, its a normal thing because at the sub-continent condition, spinners will play a vital role. Again, pacers will do better at the condition of the New Zealand, Australia, England and South Africa, he also said.
Actually we could have won the match for spinners better performance. In that case, pace bowlers can keep a vital role abroad. We, the pace bowlers, who are in the team, have to take in mind that we have to take responsibility to do well, he added.
When asked him to make a comparison between the pace bowlers of Bangladesh and South Africa, Rabbi said that even though the Proteas have world class bowlers they not lagging behind them.
South Africa is of course a better side. They have a good number of pace bowlers. Rabada, Pillander and Morkel are world class bowlers. But we are not lagging behind. At our condition, pace bowlers are not successful but Mustafiz took four wickets. Actually were still learning how to take wicket. I think those who will play in South Africa will do better, he responded.
