Dhaka Premier League frontrunners Abahani Limited sidelined prodigious leg-spinner Jubair Hossain in their recent matches, leaving his chance of making it to the World Cup squad bleak. Jubair burst into country’s cricketing scenario during the recent home series against Zimbabwe when he did reasonably well in both Tests and one-day internationals to emerge as a bright prospect for future.
His 11-wicket in three Tests, including a match-winning five-for in the third and final Test, had prompted the selectors to give him a break in limited-over cricket where he also did fine.
The 19-year old prodigy picked up four vital wickets in two ODIs he played earning him a call in the 30-member provisional squad for the World Cup 2015.
Just when he needed a few more exposures at the domestic level he received a harsh lesson from Abahani, who did not pick him in any of their four matches since he made himself available.
‘I really don’t know why I am not picked,’ Jubair told New Age from his home town.
‘The management only said that both the left-arm spinners [ Nazmul Apu and Saqlain Sajib] are doing well, so there is no place for me in the playing eleven,’ said Jubair.
‘It is really frustrating for me because I was looking forward to the league to excel in order to make a strong claim for the World Cup,’ he said.
Coach Sarwar Imran agreed that it is not an ideal situation for any youngster but declined to make any change of plan for the Super League.
‘It is necessary to groom youngsters but we cannot afford that,’ Imran told New Age.
‘Our both spinners are doing extremely well, so it is very difficult to break the combination just to accommodate a youngster,’ he added.
Abahani won seven matches on the trot to finish the first phase on top.
Selector Minhajul Abedin held Jubair responsible for the situation saying that he was unable to choose a proper team for himself in the league.
‘We cannot put pressure on Abahani to play him. I think he should have been careful about joining the club,’ he said.
‘Big clubs want instant result. So they cannot always afford any experiment and this is what happened to him. This is his first season in Dhaka Premier League, so he should have tried his luck in a small club’, added Minhajul.
As he is unlikely to get any match in the Super League, Jubair must now rely on the confidence that he achieved from coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and the selectors in international matches.
Hathurusinghe handpicked Juabir from a net session and convinced the selectors to give him the international exposure, even before he
played any meaningful domestic matches.
With Abdur Razzak, Taijul Islam and Arafat all in the mix for a World Cup slot, Jubair can now only make it with the blessings of the coach.
-With New Age input
