In a period when the Bangladesh Cricket Board appointed a specialised coach for the spinners, one of the spinners, who was until recently a key part in national team’s
bowling attack, has decided to travel to Malaysia for a month to seek assistance from his former mentor.
Unable to get a call in the national camp, where spinners are now being supervised by Pakistani Saqlain Mushtaq, Sohrawardi Shuvo decided to fly to Malaysia at least
for a month to train under Mohammad Salahuddin.
Salahuddin, who is currently in charge of a university team in Malaysia, was used by BCB to look after the spinners during his term as national assistant coach from
2006-10.
Left-arm spinner Sohrawardi, a former BKSP boy, learned his basics from Salahuddin and thought he would be the perfect man to guide him during this crucial period of
his career.
Sohrawardi has not played for the national team since November 2011 and is almost unwanted in the national set up ever since Elias Sunny joined Sakib al Hasan and
Abdur Razzak in spin attack.
The selectors overlooked him so much so that he did not even get a call in the 28-member preliminary squad of the Bangladesh ‘A’ team that played a domestic tournament
in India last month.
‘I am very disappointed as I don’t have a place where I would be able to rectify my short comings,’ Sohrawardi told New Age.
‘The tragic part is no one is giving me a clear picture about my form,’ said Sohrawardi, who was almost in tears while packing his bag before boarding in a Malaysia-
bound flight last night.
‘Whenever I ask the selectors I am told that I am not in form,’ he said. ‘I was one of the captains of the Bangladesh ‘A’ team in the last home series [against England
Lions in January] and was the man of the match in the last game by picking up four wickets. Yet I was not considered for the India tournament,’ he said.
Salahuddin welcomed the visit and said he is ready to help his former student with all his capacity.
‘It seems he is very depressed and low in confidence. My first duty will be to restore his confidence. If I can do this I am sure he will regain his form,’ Salahuddin
told New Age over phone from Malaysia.
‘Here I will take him to the training with my group. I am hopeful it will help him,’ said the former national assistant coach.
-With New Age input
