Earlier than Hasan Mahmud boarded the flight to Rawalpindi final month, his profession was at a crossroads. He had all the pieces in his armoury – tempo, accuracy, swing and was a dependable fielder too. Regardless of being on the forefront of Bangladesh’s quick bowling hopes, Mahmud, who had been predominantly a white-ball bowler until then, had discovered himself out of favour within the longest format. In accordance with Check captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, Mahmud’s torpid, laid-back angle was uncharacteristic for a quick bowler.
However of late, Mahmud is displaying why Ottis Gibson and Allan Donald named him the perfect pacer to emerge from Bangladesh. After a five-fer within the final Check towards Pakistan, Mahmud ran by way of India’s top-order on the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday choosing up 4 wickets.
That angle had been a sizzling subject in Bangladesh cricketing circles. In an period of celebrappeals, regardless of taking a maiden five-wicket haul in an ODI towards Eire at Sylhet in Might 2023, Mahmud had a muted celebration. Requested about it in a press convention, his response had shocked even his teammates. “I don’t actually rejoice and there’s no actual purpose why. You could possibly say that if I rejoice after taking a wicket, it is going to make the batter really feel extra upset in order that’s why I don’t rejoice,” he had mentioned.
Hasan Mahmud breaks the partnership by claiming the wicket of Rishabh Pant! That’s his fourth wicket and a significant breakthrough for the aspect. 👏🇧🇩#BCB #Cricket #INDvBAN #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/SsGC2kEQDB
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 19, 2024
Even on Thursday, as Mahmud minimize India’s prime order to measurement by choosing up the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli within the first session, his celebrations weren’t excessive. In a crew that wears its feelings on its sleeves, he’s an exception. After troubling Rohit and Kohli along with his motion, and making them edge to the ready cordon behind the stumps, Mahmud would simply take pleasure in a fist pump and some high-fives. It was solely after eradicating Rishabh Pant within the third over after lunch that he winked on the batsman.
“That isn’t a celebration, however only a easy gesture of mine. I’m simply glad. Once you take their wickets who’re the perfect proper now, naturally one could be glad,” Mahmud would say on the finish of the day.
For Bangladesh, although, it was undoubtedly an enormous deal. Having chosen to discipline after successful the toss on a dark day, greater than Taskin Ahmed and their different tempo sensation Nahid Rana, it was Mahmud who made the ball speak. With a easy, open-chested motion, Mahmud’s USP lies in his wrist positioning that permits the ball to maneuver each methods. Similar to Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif, Mahmud makes use of his wrist to flick the ball on the final second, and invariably the ball listens to him.
Return on funding
It has been the case since his age-group days. Born right into a farmer’s household, Mahmud is a product of Bangladesh’s age-group system and performed on the 2018 Underneath-19 World Cup, as did Shivam Mavi and Kamalesh Nagarkotti. Just like the Indian duo, he too suffered a spate of again accidents that hampered his elevation to the highest degree until 2020.
As soon as Mahmud obtained a look-in, he grew to become a central determine in Bangladesh’s white-ball set-up till the tip of 2023. Although he tallied wickets persistently in white-ball cricket, he needed to overcome his struggles with the crimson ball as soon as it misplaced its shine.
Regardless of his success with the white ball, it’s with the crimson cherry that he feels he’s a greater bowler. “It has a special really feel within the hand. I prefer it in my hand. I all the time have a sense that I can get a wicket with the crimson ball,” he had mentioned.
And it was Bangladesh Cricket Board’s ambition to enhance their quick bowling sources that induced new hope into Mahmud’s red-ball aspirations. With the board insisting on Nationwide Cricket League matches being performed on pitches with 6mm grass with Dukes balls, Mahmud would begin flourishing, even enjoying a central position in Chattogram’s triumph. Now, with wickets coming with the previous ball too, he would develop into a part of Bangladesh’s pool of quick bowlers. Within the second Check towards Pakistan, wherein he picked up 5 wickets, three got here with the previous ball.
Right here on Thursday, he needed to depend on his power which had impressed Donald essentially the most. Though he had swing, it was Donald who made him aggressive up entrance with the brand new ball. And Mahmud caught to what Donald saved telling him. “I simply wished to pitch it up and let the ball transfer each methods. When there’s assist from the pitch, you simply want to stay to the fundamentals which might hassle the batsmen,” Mahmud mentioned.
With India getting out of jail courtesy Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, Bangladesh nonetheless have a job to do. If they’re to cease India operating away with an early benefit on the second day, they want Mahmud, particularly with the second new ball obtainable.