Mashrafe and Hathurusingha backed me the most: Sabbir
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|| Desk Report ||
Bangladesh national team player Sabbir Rahman said that he has been backed off most by the former skipper Mashrafe and the former national team coach Chandika Hathurusingha
Sabbir Rahman made his ODI debut under the former coach Hathurusingha and former skipper Mashrafe in 2014 against Zimbabwe. In that match, he had an unbeaten score of 44 from 25 deliveries at Chattogram.
Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB] appointed Chandika Hathurusingha as the coach of Tigers in 2014. After being appointed Hathurusingha searched for young talent and brought out talents like Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Hathurusingha always backed this players and wanted them to rise on to the occasion. Like in Sabbir Rahman's scenario everyone believed that as per the hitting prowess Sabbir would be fit in the Twenty20 format, but Hathurusingha made the bold decision of taking him into the Test and made him batted in the number three position. Despite being not up to the mark the coach always supported him.
The right-handed batsman said in an interview to Cricfrenzy that he is grateful to have coaches like Hathurusingha who brought him into the team and supported him and backed him in his depressed moment, mentored him like a friend and a guardian.
"Hathurusingha brought me to the national team. He gave me the opportunity to play a lot of matches. He took me to the World Cup to many big tournaments. I got the most support from him in my cricket career. He guided me as a good friend or guardian." Sabbir also said that after Hathurusingha's departure, Steve Rhodes has also guided him well. But the support he gets from Hathurusingha is uncomparable. "Steve Rhodes has also guided me well. I played for the last one year under him. In the New Zealand series and the World Cup. Besides, I have played under many more coaches. However, these two coaches of the national team were very good to me and supported me. But most of the support I received was from Hathurusingha. Whether it is from emotionally or for playing. Will not take aside Rhodes also. He also helped me a lot." Sabbir added.
The all-rounder has also praised about the former skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, under whose he made his debut in the national team.
Sabbir Rahman said that he played more successfully under Mashrafe's supervision. Mashrafe always looked after him as a big brother.
"I got debut under Mashrafe Bhai. Most of the time I played under him. Played Test under Shakib Bhai-Riyad Bhai. There was a separate experience under separate skippers. I will not say that under anyone I have had played bad. Everyone supported me more or less. But I was more successful under Mashrafe Bhai, he always looked after me like a big brother." Sabbir concluded.
