DHAKA, – Bangladesh off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz took just five wickets from six games in the ongoing World Cup, a stat that looked not perfect for a frontline bowler.
But the fact is that the team management doesn’t want him to go for wicket, rather they want him to curb the aggression of the opponents in flat track, bowling with tight line and length. The strategy is– he would create pressure which would give the other bowlers a scope to get wicket.
And here Miraz is successful. His economy rate is just 5.45 in six games and the economy rate looked more prominent when almost every opponent scored more than 300 runs against Bangladesh.
However for a total team man like Miraz, it is no problem that he is no getting many wickets, what every bowler wants in this big stage. He rather expressed his satisfaction after playing his role perfectly as given by the team management.
“I was told and I also felt that I need to bowl with tight line and length so that I can increase the chances for other bowlers to get wickets,” Miraz said.
“If you see I tried to bowl in tight length rather going for wicket when I came to bowl. When opponents didn’t get any chance to attack me due to my tight bowling, they went hard other bowlers and subsequently gave them wickets. That was the strategy,” he added.
Citing the team’s cause is important for him rather than the personal achievement, he said: “I may not get many wickets or my individual performance doesn’t look that good but for me team is winning and it’s crucial for me.”
The English condition is not that suitable for the sub-continent finger spinners, which prompted the team management not to motivate Miraz to go for wickets.
Shakib also got only five wickets before the Afghanistan match. But as the pitch got used and deteriorated spinners started getting more purchase from the pitch, and Shakib was the first to make the full use of it claiming his career best 5-29 against Afghanistan.
Shakib later said Miraz will also get some assistance from the wicket as the time progresses but the key is to land the ball in right areas.
“We need some help from the pitch to get wickets,” said Shakib after the match against Afghanistan. “Miraz will also get the purchase but he should maintain his line and length.”
