'No player is perfect' - Bijoy
Anamul Haque Bijoy is one of the most talented players in
the country—and he showed precisely that with his beautiful stroke-play in the
National Cricket League that helped his team, Khulna, win the tournament. With
two double-hundreds, he not only mesmerized the viewers and the selectors, he
also ended up with the most runs in the contest.
As a result, the selectors have rewarded him with a call-up in
the 32-men probable list for the tri-nation series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka
and Test and T20I series against the latter. Speaking exclusively to
Cricfrenzy, Anamul couldn’t hide his elation and bathed in the glory bequeathed
upon him by the selectors.
Cricfrenzy (Cf): Which was more enjoyable: two double
hundreds or winning the tournament?
Anamul Haque (Bijoy): Obviously, winning the tournament. Yes,
I scored two double centuries, but that is my personal achievement. However,
playing a role in the team’s glory was the bigger achievement.
Cf: You are truly enjoying the team’s win, then?
Bijoy: I like the fact that whichever team I have played
for, I have contributed my share for them. For example, I helped Gazi group
become the champions of Dhaka League last year. I make as many runs as possible
in that path. I have scored more than 500 runs in each of last three year’s
National Cricket Leagues. This time, I scored around 600 runs and Khulna won the
trophy for the third straight year. This is what I love the most.
Cf: Getting a call-up for the probable-list, it’s a matter
of joy…
Bijoy: I was in the national team before and I scored runs
too. But now, I wasn’t in the team and have been called up… this is how life
is. The most important thing for me is scoring runs and I have done that (in the
National league)—that’s perhaps why I got called up. I like it when I score
runs, I like it even more when I get a chance (to play in the national team).
Cf: Did you expect a call-up after such performances in the
National Cricket League?
Bijoy: I always hope (that I get called up). Every night I
go to bed with hope that the Sun will welcome me with some good news—I hope
that the day goes well. Yesterday I got the news (that I am on the probable
list). Let’s see if I make it to the final list. And then there is the question
of playing in the starting XI—I always dream big.
Cf: Were you upset when you were out of the national team?
Bijoy: I used to get upset over the smallest of issues
before, but now I have learned. When you are out of the national team, you
learn a lot—you experience a lot of new things. It allows you to get over the
flaws you have and develop yourself further. I always believe that whatever the
Almighty does, He does for good. That’s why I think that maybe I was out of the
national team because of some greater good.
Cf: There were some questions against your ability to rotate
the strike and footwork. Did you work on this?
Bijoy: No human is 100% perfect. No player is either. I
perhaps had some flaws and maybe still have some left. I work on them, but I believe
that it is all down to self-belief. Sometimes, when people hear such things,
their self-confidence shakes and they get upset and go on the backfoot. That’s
when it is difficult to regain the lost confidence.
Cf: How do you keep yourself excited?
Bijoy: I tell myself that I have three international
hundreds and 14 centuries in the first-class circuit. I have also played in the
U19 arena and I have been selected by the national team before on this basis.
That means I have ability, which is why I was selected in the first place. Now
I have been called up again after scoring a lot of runs (in the NCL) and if I
get a place in the main team, it will be because of faith and I will try to
repay it (with my performance).
Cf: What was the secret of your performance in the NCL?
Bijoy: A lot of work and practice has to be put in. After
all, playing a long innings is a test of patience. That’s why I prepared myself
for it. I worked hours after hours in the nets and worked out in gym
vehemently. This is all actually like a movie: when you watch it, you don’t realize
the amount of work that has been done behind the screens. The performance of a
cricketer is just like that; there is a lot of work behind a good performance.
I am happy that my hard work paid off.
