In a country where left-arm spinners are as available as Miss Worlds are in India, it was not an easy task for Sohrawardi Shuvo to break into the Bangladesh national cricket team. Despite his immense talent, the former BKSP boy had to wait until March, 2010 to make his debut and bowl only three overs in his first match against England which did not signal anything good for the bearded man from Rangpur. Barring one match-winning performance against New Zealand, he has not done anything extraordinary to date to claim a permanent slot in the national squad alongside Sakib al Hasan and Abdur Razzak, but the selectors think at least he has that potential. They ignored numerous calls for his head in favour of enigmatic Alok Kapali and sincerely believed he has a role to play despite the side already having two world class left-arm spinners. Like many goalkeeping legends in football, who took the post after regular goalkeeper was absent and found sheer potential in them, Sorawardi’s cricket career also began in that fashion. On the eve of their Nirman School Championship match in 1999, Al Hera School saw a regular player had not turned up and finding no option requested a 12-year-old Class VI student to take his slot. Sorawardi reluctantly played and bowled five overs and to his amazement he claimed five wickets for 10 runs. His talent was immediately recognised by the BKSP scouts who requested his parents to send him to the academy. A cousin named Mithu stepped in to convince them and Sorawardi got admitted to the BKSP. He became an integral part of age-group teams and made his first-class debut for Rajshahi in 2004. He was also a part of the Bangladesh Under-19 World Cup squad in 2006 and took nine wickets in six matches in Sri Lanka. He went on to lead the Bangladesh U-19 side at the World Cup in 2008. But a call-up for the national team was not easy, with many other quality left-arm spinners around. His all-round ability finally helped him to break the barrier, though batting is second priority to him. ‘World Cup memories are hard to forget and I want to put in such a performance that it will be remembered for a long time,’ said Sohrawardi.
