Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam left Dhaka on Friday for West Indies to join the Bangladesh national cricket team for the one-off Twenty20 International and the two-Test series against the home side. Taijul’s inclusion in the Twenty20 and Test squad, his much-anticipated first call-up to the national team, however, was not officially announced, denying him an opportunity to hog the headlines.
Taijul is the only change to the one-day squad that is currently busy in a three-match ODI series. He is expected to replace Abdur Razzak, the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Twenty20 International, who is no longer in selectors’ plan for the shortest version.
He is also expected replace Razzak in the Test squad.
The 22-year-old Natore player, however, seemed to be little concerned about being tipped as the successor to country’s most successful left-arm spinner Razzak.
‘I think there is no pressure to go as a replacement for Raz bhai (Razzak),’ Taijul told New Age on Friday. ‘Rather it’s an inspiration to work even harder as I have to pay back the faith the selectors placed in me.
‘I played some Twenty20 matches so there is hardly any major problem with the format and probably got the spotlight through the first edition of the BPL.’
The selectors noticed his progress in different age-level tournaments and domestic competitions as he represented Bangladesh at the Under-16 level.
Taijul claimed highest 37 wickets in the Bangladesh Cricket League for North Zone that finally brought him to the spotlight, resulting in his call-up to the Bangladesh A team for the West Indies tour this year.
Earlier, he impressed for Duronto Rajshahi in the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 tournament.
‘I think it was a pleasant journey since the BPL. Wherever I played I could contribute to some extent and that was pleasing. I am learning with each passing day.’
-With New Age input
