HP coach Helmot pleased with local youngsters
Sports Reporter from Chattogram
Chittagong Vikings head coach Simon Helmot said that they have a look on young, talented players in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) keeping the 2020 ICC World T20, scheduled to take place Down Under.
Like previous edition of the BPL, a string of young and talented players has been performing for the BPL teams the likes Yasir Ali, Afif Hossain, Abu Jayed Rahi, Zakir Hasan and Syed Khaled Ahmed.
Helmot praised much of Yasir Ali among the youngsters for his jaw-dropping batting performance against quality bowling attack. He tipped his rosy prospect in future Bangladesh, stating that he works in HP with Yasir, who made a lot change from their first meet what he witnessed in batting beside his fitness and fielding.
When I first met him in the academy he was just a young player in the academy squad. Probably he needed to do some work in conditioning. He has some skills, he had to improve on his fielding and fitness. And he has done that. Now look what happened his batting has now gone to another level. Its not just his batting hes improved his fitness and fielding, said Simon Helmot, who coached in the BCB-high performance (HP) team and now for Chittagong Vikings in BPL.
With all that it has given him confidence when he goes to bat. He plays cricket shots in a T20 match, drives, cuts and pulls. He can work the ball, hit with the power. Hit over mid wicket, straight and extra cover for sure. Were excited about his prospect in Bangladesh cricket, Helmot told reporters.
Afif from Sylhet has started to grow and to develop. Yasir Ali he is doing well. Some of the bowling have good opportunities now. Its important for Bangladesh cricket because weve a T20 World Cup in Australia, October 2020. So this competition is very important for us cause it gives us a look what are the talents are gonna represent our country in a years time, he added.
Thats weve talked about how can we can still look for taking wickets in the top order. If we take wickets early and reduce the score. I think Rahi has bowled beautifully and Khaled has been one of our highest wicket takers. So theyve the ability to do that, he said of Abu Jayed Rahi and Khaled Ahmed.
He praised of wickets in BPL, when he has seen the growth of the players regardless of local and foreign players.
This is the exciting part of BPL were seeing guys who can perform that are gonna play for their country. We must not take our eyes of that. BPL is wonderful T20 competition, great competition great overseas talent, great international, Bangladesh and domestic players. Weve seen the growth of players here, he noted.
Look there is room for improvement. Youre right we need to improve across the board in the top order whether its overseas or local domestic players. We know in T20 cricket especially on good wickets like Chattogram. Wonderful wicket here, groundsmen have done wonderful job. Its really important to have wickets in hand in the end, he said.
Cause we have seen all teams scoring heavily in the last five overs. even in the last game scoring heavily in the last five overs you can do if you are only two or three wickets down. if you are five or six wickets down very hard, he continued.
