‘Process’ will make Bangladesh world class Test playing nation, believes Aamer Sohail

|| CF CORRESPONDENT ||

Bangladesh celebrated a historic first-ever Test series win over Pakistan and a 2-0 clean sweep with a tense six-wicket victory in Rawalpindi. A handful of Bangladesh supporters in Pakistan waving the nation's flag were also there to see their country win only a third away series in 33 attempts.

Pakistan former cricket and renowned commentator Aamer Sohail shared his view with Cricfrenzy on Bangladesh’s historic Test series victory.

Cricfrenzy: If I would ask you to say Bangladesh would win this two match Test series 2-0 before the series, what would you have been said?

Aamer Sohail: I'm going to ask you the same question. Were you expecting that? They're really surprised not only themselves their fans, but also the Pakistani cricket team. I mean the way they read the situations, the way the youngsters came to the fore, the way senior players took the responsibility and the gelled in very well to be able to execute the plans and the plans were perfect and the execution was even better.

At the start of the series, nobody gave them a chance. Yes. There was an outside chance. They're gonna win one game, maybe. But to be able to win two test matches in a row, that is quite an achievement and hats off to the entire team, and especially the senior players who started to take the responsibility. You expect that the youngsters they may falter at times. But with their encouragement, they were on the money they were dialed in. They were on the job and eventually they achieved something really, really big.

And let me say that do not take your hopes very high. It is a process which has just started for Bangladesh team. And if you take your hopes very high, there is every opportunity that you're gonna get disappointed. And the criticism go is going to be there, which is going to be a detrimental for the confidence of the team. You have to keep on reminding the team, the process has started to achieve bigger things. You do not have to rush into it.

CF: You have been the captain of Pakistan. You have led Pakistan to their first ever desperate against South Africa. So what happens after such victory? What will be your suggestion for the Bangladesh test team? As you said, don't you get carried away? What are the areas Bangladesh team needs to focus on from here on as it's a huge win for Bangladesh?

AS: Yeah, it is a huge win, but it's a very important question you have asked. My suggestion would be that, like I said before, the process has started, they are not there yet.

First thing first they have to do is, okay, reflect back. We won a couple of test matches against Pakistan, and we are going to play against India, which are the areas we need to improve upon? What are the new things we have to bring on the table to be able to surprise the opposition? This time around, you really surprised with pace and seen bowling of yours.

Initially, it was all about spin attack. You used to have a lone fast bowler, but not a battery of fast bowlers. So not only you have to use those fast bowlers intelligently, but like I said before, processes started. And when a process starts, there are so many things you have to improve upon to become a genuine article.

CF: As you mentioned about the fast bowling department, you were in the combox and you describe and analyze the fast bowlers. What are the difference you have noticed compared to the past? And also about Nahid Rana, the youngster who clicked 150 + the fastest delivery by a Bangladeshi bower ever.

AS: The first, I saw him during BPL and I was very impressed with him. He like, at times, raw talent and un-tutor talent brings you laurels, and one could fail. He could actually achieve something for Bangladesh when I saw him featuring in BPL. When I was commentating in the first innings of the first test match, he was bowling with a lot of pace, celerity was there. He was bowling bouncers. Accuracy wasn't there. He had the batsman thinking with this space and well directed bouncers. But one thing I remember, I said in the commentary box that Nahid has got the pace. He's got quite a few things in his armory. But when he bowls bouncers, then he doesn't have a follow up delivery. That was the first innings of the first test match. But second innings, he realized, somebody must have spoken to him. You remember that delivery after bowling few bouncers, he dismissed Babar Azam, whether a full pace delivery just outside the off stump. These are the kind of deliveries you need to bowl after softening the batsman up.

So in the second things, you could see, the guy has started to learn. And then in the second test match, he was a much improved bowler, and then what really impressed me, he can bowl longer spells as well. That's where he can make a huge difference.

CF: Bangladesh haven't had the best of experience when it comes to Test cricket. We have always been talked about Bangladesh's approach in test format after these two test wins. Where do you see Bangladesh go about the approach in the Test format? What are the areas you think they need to work on?

AS: I think what we saw in the middle order apart from Mushiqur [Rahim], nobody was able to go big. You have to keep on encouraging your two openers, Zakir [Hasan] and Shadman [Islam]. As a selector, you have to keep on instilling confidence in them. You good enough. You can deal with any pace attack in the world. You can go abroad and you can play well, we have the confidence in you, and you don't have to worry about anything. Just keep on performing for the team. That's the confidence you have to give them.

And you have to look away. If they don't have a good series or two, as a player, you go through bad patches and all that. And once you are supported by the selection committee and your own team, you start to believe that I'm good enough. Even though I'm failing, they are persisting with me, so I have to react. Now you have to groom your player players one.

The other thing is middle order batters they really need to improve upon.

And third thing, you and me, remember, you interviewed me, and I said, you need to find a leg spinner, wrist spinner. If you get a wrist-spinner along with this space attack, that'll serve Bangladeshi cricket very well.

CF: We talk a lot about the pitches and surfaces in Bangladesh, which doesn't suit pacers. So recently, there have been a few developments. The board has been started, reducing good surfaces for the fast bowlers. How's the culture back in Pakistan? We know Pakistan has been historically producing fast bowlers. What are the encouraging signs here you would like to see in the future days?

AS: When I did a couple of BPLs in Bangladesh, there are venues where you do have pitches which offer a lot of bounds and see movement. So that's where I remember having a chat with Curtly Ambrose that it is going to be very encouraging for the fast bowlers. Instead of bowling spin, they'll be willing to bowl fast. So when you see three or four fast bowlers playing in a game, and playing at the highest level representing Bangladesh, what the young star would like to do. They would like to copy them. Initially, the role models were spinners. So everybody wants you to be a spinner because of the spinning tracks as well. So now, culture needs to be changed. Yes, you got fast bowlers, and you have to provide the surfaces, not only for these, these set of fast bowlers, but for the generations to come. So they take a fast bowling, and they start enjoying bowling fast in Bangladesh.

CF: As previously I said, we had heroes like Shakib [Al Hasan], Mushfiq, Mahmdullah. But in this Test series, we have seen quite a lot of new heroes. Suppose if I talk about Shadman, Litton Das, Mehidy Miraz, Hasan Mahmud. How do you see these new faces coming up and taking those responsibility? Is it a good sign for Bangladesh?

AS: You remember, Hasan Mahmud, really struggled in few matches, especially in Dhaka. And he was bowling Ok, I think in Sylhet. We spoke about that. But you have to give credit to somebody who was working along with him and instill the importance of line and length, how to set up a batsman to be able to pick up wickets. Because it's a cliche thing, not many times a as a bowler, you're able to get a batsman out with a peach of a delivery. Most of the times, you are reliant on a batsman mistake and how you make a batsman make a mistake. This is the art of bowling, and I think he has learned that. And to answer your question, when these fast bowlers they're going to be featuring for Bangladesh for a period of time, I think youngsters are going to follow him and that all goes well for Bangladesh.

CF: Another thing about there hasn't been, things are not going well in Bangladesh, even before the start of the series. So Pakistan cricket board hosted Bangladesh a couple of days earlier, and allowed them to practice in Pakistan that held Bangladesh a lot. At the same time, there have been a massive change in the Bangladesh cricket board recently, and one of your friends Faruque Ahmed is now the board president. Have you spoke with him?

AS: I congratulate him, I sent him a message and he replied back. The answer I got from him. He said, pray for me that I am able to do something for something special for Bangladesh. I know Faruque from childhood. We played cricket together whenever I'm in Bangladesh. I know he means well for Bangladesh cricket. I'm sure with his knowledge of the game, with his passion he is gonna take after this victory is gonna take Bangladesh cricket forward and forward.

CF: Just going back to Pakistan by what was the reaction from the locals and former cricket? As we have seen, there are so many like hard feelings from the cricket as former cricket as and also they're expressing their disappointment over the Pakistan team's performance. What's your take on the Pakistan team? And what will be your message for the Pakistan team?

AS: Look first thing first, Pakistani cricketer are criticized creatively. There is so much said, but whoever are using very strong language or criticizing most of the players they've been involved with the Pakistani setup.

Their time they could have contributed. They could have aware the Pakistani cricket board that in the near future, we might face these problems. Yes, we have lost. But instead of gunning for their heads and all that, I think everybody has to come up with solutions. What Pakistan cricket needs, It's not Babar is not good enough. They are product of your system. You need to improve your system to be able to get better result. And I personally think if you ask me, maybe it's a blessing in disguise for Pakistan. It's a wake-up call. The other teams are improving so much, and you're going backwards.

CF: And about Bangladesh, they haven't been passed away the 9th position in the world Test Championship in the previous two occasions. Now they have jumped to four, but still, the tournament is still long to go….

AS: I will say that is an achievement without any doubt, jumping to number four. But I'll say it again. I'll remind everybody again. It is a process, do not aim so high that quickly. Go through a process, try and go through a process. Time will be there. You'll get there somehow. But if you want to go there in a jiffy and with a sprint, I think you're gonna stumble. It has to be a marathon.

CF: By another thing, Bangladesh has been playing international cricket for quite some time. Now it's been 20, 22 years. They haven't won a major title in any of the formats. Supporters and the fans are eagerly waiting for something big. They have been so desperate to get a big title. But yet to achieve one, do you really believe Bangladesh could win a major title within the next few years? And will that be a big boost? Winning a major title?

AS: I think you're getting there.  The facilities are there. It's the most revered game in Bangladesh. Almost every youngster kid wants to be a cricketer. So if with that population, everybody wants to be a cricketer.

So I think the time is round the corner for you guys to win something big. But again, I say it's a process. Do not take your aims very high. What I've seen at times with Bangladesh team, when they started to play well, they actually became overconfident at times because of that overconfidence and extra burden of desperation, like we have to win this, really hampered them.

So I think what they need to do is slowly growing confidence. Do not get overconfident, and just say, yes, we can win it. We can win it. And like I said before, process, process.

CF: What do you think Bangladesh did right this time around? And what you really feel? What are the difference you have seen from the previous Bangladesh team? You have followed this team for a while. Now. What actually change in this tour?

AS: Much more disciplined. I'm not talking about of the field discipline. It is necessary as well. If you're disciplined of the field as well. And even in your spare time, you're talking about cricket how to improve and then shut yourself from cricket and then go out for dinner and all that and refocus on cricket. I think that discipline showed on the field that is the most important aspect for a team to start winning games. I'll start giving a message to the opposition by carrying confidence on their chest in bold letters. Discipline is the key actually. Discipline on the field.

CF: Bangladesh will be touring India this month. What do you reckon? They'll be playing two Test matches. Three T20 is. Can Bangladesh hope to be India as well in a test match? Maybe?

AS: my suggestion, when they go to India, would be tell the team try and compete well. If you can't win, then get really close. If you get close couple of times that, next time, the team will say we got very close. Next time we're gonna win it. We are going to make an extra effort and we're gonna win it. When you go out, and you put yourself under pressure by saying, now we have one against Pakistan, we're going to India. We have to win. No, like I said before, I'm saying it again and again, it's a process. So when you go to India, you say we are going to get close to whatever India is getting. If it's a 5 day test match, we are gonna take the game to the 5th day like they did in Pakistan 5th day. When you take the game on the 5th day, it's anybody's game then.

CF: Do you think Bangladesh is now forced to reckon in Test cricket now? I know you are talking about the process, but the way they played, the way they showed, they can play this format. Do you think Test cricket is also for Bangladesh?

AS: See, This is the problem in subcontinent. We make players heroes overnight. We make them zero overnight. We laud the team one, and we start to expect they are going to get the moon for us.

So. criticism or no criticism, think is you keep your approach professional, you prepare well, you go and compete. Once you start to compete well against the stronger teams, the time is just around the corner where you get, you have that confidence we can beat any team in the world, and we are ready for it. But again, I'll end this show by saying it is a process.