Bangladesh Air Force solider Ibadat Hossain struck 139 kmph in the speed gun to draw the attention of coaches in the ongoing pace bowling camp at the National Cricket Academy. A total of 18 pacers are participating in the camp, which includes 10 selected bowlers from recent pace bowling hunt programme, four age-level bowlers and four promising bowlers identified by the national selectors in domestic tournaments.
The two-week programme, which started on March 27, will end in next week.
Right-arm pace bowler Ibadat was selected from Faridpur during the pacer hunt and continued to impress since then, said local coaches.
Bangladesh Cricket Board pace bowling coach Sarwar Imran said that Ibadat possess the ability to bowl at some good pace and a few adjustment in his action will make him a better bowler.
‘Surely he is the fastest at the moment,’ said Imran.
‘He was impressive in the trial and since kept on bowling at good speed without much of a trouble. It indicates his ability,’ he said.
‘We tried to modify his action a bit so that he can come up with even better result.’
Ibadat, 25, however is not a complete stranger in local cricket having represented City Club in the recent Dhaka First Division League, where he claimed eight wickets.
He also bowled several times in nets of Bangladesh national team’s net in the past.
Having failed to grab the attention in Dhaka league and national team nets, he decided to pursue his career elsewhere and joined Bangladesh Air Force in 2012.
He started playing volleyball for Air Force before finally getting new opportunity in cricket through pacer hunt.
‘It is like a fairytale story,’ Ibadat told New Age on the sideline of a training session on Tuesday.
‘I just tried to bowl fast since I learnt cricket and now it gives a new window of opportunity,’ he said
‘I was bowling at good pace in 2012 but opted to leave the sport and join the Air Force as I did not get any support in cricket.’
‘This is a second beginning for me and I am determined to make it memorable as it is my only dream,’ he said.
According to BCB coach Imran there are at least a couple of bowlers in the camp with the potential of becoming successful pace bowler.
The 10 bowlers were selected from the initial choice of 96 pace bowlers picked in first phase of the talent hunt programme in 16 venues across the country.
Pace bowlers from the pacer hunt programme are expected to be put up in the E category in the Dhaka Premier League Players’ by Choice draft, scheduled on April 10.
Ibadat, however, will have to wait for at least another year to try his luck in DPL as he already participated in the First Division Cricket League in this season.
-With New Age input
