Ace Bangladeshi all-rounder Sakib al Hasan is determined to rectify his shortcomings as he knows it is time to deliver in the national jersey. The talismanic cricketer began his preparation earlier than his national team-mates through a rigorous three-hour session with his childhood mentor Mohammad Salahuddin. He followed his individual workout by joining his national team-mates in the preparation camp ahead of the tournament-proper of the Asia Cup Twenty20.
It is expected to be the dress rehearsal of the forthcoming ICC World Twenty20 tournament and two back-to-back high profile T20 tournaments seemed to have ignited his desire to excel even more.
Sakib is not known to recover from his shortcomings through severe workload off the field he rather prefers to do that thorough on-field play but his below-standard form in Pakistan Super League looked to have made some impact to change his usual course.
‘I am always excited and inspired before wearing the national jersey,’ Sakib told New Age after completing his individual session in the academy.
‘So, naturally I don’t want to keep any stone unturned as far as my personal preparation is concerned.
‘In that context I just tried to rectify some of my shortcomings that are found out to be major hindrance in progressing further.
‘I am sure it can be sorted out through proper application,’ said Sakib.
Sakib began the PSL with a half-century but could not follow it up with any more sparkling performances as he made only 75 runs in the next seven matches while with the ball only picked up three wickets all together.
Though it is too early to press the panic button due to his prolonged rough patch as he neither shined in the Bangladesh Premier League nor in the following series against Zimbabwe and it was evident all is not going as per his expectations.
It prompted him to call his mentor Salahuddin from BKSP to conduct a session with him to recognise the reasons behind his poor standard taking into account his personal ability and accomplishment.
Salahuddin picked up the problem right away and when he pointed out to him in his personal tablet it looked to have the approval by the cricketer himself. That provided an opportunity to find ways to return back to his best with some drills both with the bat and the ball.
‘Sakib is recently having problem with his bowling due to his landing as his knee is bended at the time of releasing the ball,’ said Salahuddin.
‘It prevents him from getting the bite and bounce from the wicket due to his body position.
‘Furthermore his action have changed quite a bit and his present follow through is not allowing him to use the wicket to a great deal along with flight being compromised,’ added Salahuddin.
Sakib attempted to come up with an action suited to bring out his best through he wore his batting pads for the whole three hours suggesting he was more inclined to know why he is failing as a batsman.
According to Salahuddin, who was also former Bangladesh assistant coach, Sakib remained pre-determined on some occasions and that hardly bore any fruit but caused demise.
‘He always prefers to go over the midwicket region and this tendency made him pay with deliveries in and around the off-stump’, said Salahuddin.
‘If he can learn to take the extra-cover route it will allow him to play with more freedom as he won’t be locked after the bowler bowls in both sides of the wicket.’
Though Sakib struggled initially, he looked to be getting comfortable playing over the extra cover when he was batting against the bowlers at the wicket beside the indoor stadium.
-With New Age input
