Suspended off-spinner Sohag Gazi said on Saturday that he is confident of returning to international cricket in less than three months by remodeling his action.
‘I don’t think it will take me a long time and I am sure of making a comeback quickly,’ Sohag told reporters in Mirpur. ‘I heard that I have 25 degrees, which is possibly not too much. I don’t think I will need as long as three months.’
The International Cricket Council banned Sohag on October 8 after analysis showed that all of his deliveries during the biomechanical test at Cardiff exceeded 15 degrees level of tolerance.
Sohag, who heard the bad news in his home town Patuakhali, returned to Dhaka on Saturday and promptly attended a meeting with Bangladesh Cricket Operation chairman Akram Khan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium to learn about his remedial process.
The meeting was also attended by former national fielding coach Mohammad Salahuddin, who had a big role in correcting Abdur Razzak’s bowling action after the left-arm spinner was banned for illegal bowling action in 2008.
Sohag, however, is still not sure if he will work under the same coach or someone else.
‘The only thing we talked about is to work with coaches, who were involved with Abdur Razzak,’ he said.
‘Maybe a coach from outside will also work but I think it is best if the BCB decides who to bring.’
Sohag was confident after returning from biomechanical test and assured all that everything was all right during the examination. However, it proved to be wrong finally.
Asked if it was over-confidence, Sohag said that he was confident because he was given the assurance from the authority.
‘I think I had the confidence because I was given the assurance. Now, I am seeing something differently,’ he said.
‘I was shown video footage in Cardiff – of the test and the match in which I was reported. They matched the two and told me that if they are close, it is enough [for me to play],’ he said
‘I was tested once in South Africa where it was positive, although they did it suddenly if I can remember correctly, I think it was around 10 degrees,’ he added.
Sohag reached his fame in October 2013 against New Zealand when he became the first man in history to score a century and hat-trick in a Test match.
But he lost his form soon before his career was finally halted with the umpires raising a suspicion in his action during the second one-day international against West Indies in August.
He was pulled out from the subsequent Test series and Asian Games to facilitate his travel to ICC designated testing laboratories at Cardiff.
Sohag sensed some problem in his landing after deliveries which he said may affect his action.
‘There was something wrong with my feet, which hampered my body balance. Maybe that’s one thing that I will work on,’ said Sohag
‘I want to play the World Cup. If everyone in the BCB helps me, it will be possible,’ said the off-spinner.
-With New Age input
