If the drawn Chittagong Test was the high, Sohag Gazi has now seen the low point of his career in the ongoing Dhaka Test, where he is still wicket-less despite bowling 34 overs in New Zealand’s first innings. The all-rounder took nine wickets against the West Indies in the same ground last year to announce his arrival at the highest level and has since gone from strength to strength and cemented his place in the national team.
He showed then that he could handle the pressure of international cricket despite being hit for a massive six off his first delivery by Chris Gayle, whom he later removed and subsequently developed a psychological edge over.
In his seven career Test matches prior to this one, Gazi picked up 34 wickets – including two five-wicket hauls – and wrote his name in the history books by becoming the first cricketer to score a century and grab a hat-trick in the same Test against New Zealand in the series opener.
After his heroics in Chittagong, all eyes were on him to attack the Kiwis’ batting line-up and crack some blistering shots to unsettle their
bowling attack, but that talent has remained largely unseen.
Sohag scored just 14 runs and his failure with the ball made it unlikely that Bangladesh could exert the same kind of dominance they enjoyed in the first Test.
He also dropped a return-catch off his own bowling from Ish Sodhi, who was on 34 at the time and went on to finish the third day unbeaten on 55.
‘I don’t think everyone can perform every day,’ said team-mate Nasir Hossain at the press briefing after the third day.
‘Hopefully he will come good tomorrow.’
Good performances have always been expected from considering his prior record. He made it into the National Academy after two good seasons in the National Cricket League, and he took 11 wickets in his first four-day match in South Africa in August 2011, including seven wickets and a hat-trick in the first innings.
Two months later he scored his maiden first-class century, an aggressive 140 from 99 balls against Khulna Division.
After yet another productive season, Gazi finally got noticed during the 2012-13 NCL season opener, when he struck a hundred and took a hat-trick and seven wickets in an innings for Barisal against Khulna.
Bangladesh are eagerly waiting for him to again make headlines and put them in a better position against the Kiwis, who are now dominating proceedings in the second Test.
-With New Age input
