Bangladesh’s Shuvagata Hom is yet to find his feet in Test cricket despite being given repeated chance since last year.
The inclusion of Shuvagata in the Test squad against Pakistan never came without questions as his role in the team is yet to be defined clearly. While coach Chandiaka Hathrusinghe believes him to be one of the best off spinners in the country, chief selector Faruk Ahmed said on Friday that he was primarily considered as a batsmen who can also bowl.
‘I think we included him as a batsman but recently he is bowling well,’ Faruk told reporters at Mirpur.
‘It was more a demand of the team management.
‘But to be honest there is no point in carrying someone at eight who cannot be used as a full-time bowler,’ Faruk said.
Shuavagata, who is pamperedly called as ‘Swanny’ in the dressing room by Hathurusinghe, who found a lot of similarities in him with Graeme Swann, the retired English off-spinner, who claimed 255 wickets and scored 1370 at 22.09 in 85 Tests.
If morning is an indication of the day, Shuvagata is however nowhere close to matching the feat of Swann, having taken just eight wickets in six Tests and scoring 165 runs.
He needed to come up with his batting potential when Tigers required him the most on Friday but failed to do so.
The approach of the all-rounder only suggested that he was not sure what he needs to do to fill up his responsibilities.
Three wickets all together in two innings of Pakistan and a golden duck only suggest that his he has done little justice to his team.
Star all-rounder Sakib al Hasan is also little amused by his confused showing.
‘If he [Shuvagata Hom] has a recognised batsman at the other end, he can put together a substantial partnership,’ said Sakib.
‘Bangladeshi batsmen have scored 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s at No 7 and 8 in the past. Since he is a specialist batsman, he can bat with the tail-ender.
‘There is chance to contribute, but it is not easy,’ he added.
-With New Age input
