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Fast bowling, Bangladesh's most vulnerable and underutilized stock, is going to be in high demand and full display at the World Cup. The four quicks picked in the 15-man squad bring their own variety to the mix and have been effective in ODIs, while also facing their own challenges.
Fast bowlers are more likely to suffer injuries and are more vulnerable as a result, and in Bangladesh that probability has been high. Mashrafe Mortaza has missed more matches than he has played in his 13-year career while others like Abul Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain are just some of many who have had long-term injuries.
For a country that has played international cricket for less than 30 years, it is a lot of injuries to a group that already has limited membership, partly due to the nature of wickets in the country. But come February, the four Bangladesh quick bowlers would be asked to bowl more than they are used to, in different situations and against wide-ranging opponents.
The current group is led by the captain, Mashrafe, now about to play his third World Cup. He is the most experienced fast bowler in Bangladesh's history, and has found a new lease of life after continued struggle with injuries for the past decade. Rubel is the second-most experienced quick bowler in the side, and he offers stability along with the threat of sudden pace and late swing.
Al-Amin Hossain and Taskin are the two newer members of the club. Both made their ODI debuts in 2014, and have impressed in different ways. Taskin is, at the moment, the most exciting bowler in the country. He is the only one who can be classified as a proper "fast" bowler, but understands that only bowling quick has its perils.
He shot to the limelight with a five-wicket haul on debut against India last June and now in his first major campaign for Bangladesh, wants to be among the top wicket-takers.
"If I get the opportunity I will give my best shot and try to become a subject of discussion," Taskin said. "I want people to say that this fast bowler from Bangladesh is impressive. I am of good health. Actually the Dhaka Premier League was my test, whether I will be able to stay fit after playing all the matches.
"I will have to bowl fast but pace only is not enough these days. I have to bowl good line and length and use variation. I have a bit of experience of playing in Australia in the Under-19 World Cup in 2012. From what I have seen, those are true wickets. When we play on a good wicket, I can naturally bring the delivery into the batsman. I am also working on my outswinger. Getting wickets is a matter of luck as well. I will try to get among the top ten wicket-takers and bowl at high pace."
Al-Amin Hossain: "I have been bowling well in the last 12 months so maybe there is some expectation from me." © AFP
Al-Amin's first year in international cricket started off steadily; then as soon as he found some wickets, he was reported for a suspect bowling action. He cleared the test, but was left dazed by the experience.
"I have been bowling well in the last 12 months so maybe there is some expectation from me," Al-Amin said. "I played poorly in one game against Zimbabwe. I don't listen to criticism, and I would like to prove it in the World Cup.
"I was injured, I had my fourth-year final exam and the action; it was a combination of three to four things. Plus I think my fitness wasn't up to the level I had wanted so maybe that's why the performance wasn't at that level too."
Al-Amin, despite his up-and-down year, has quickly absorbed the lessons of Shane Jurgensen, Bangladesh's head coach before Chandika Hathurusingha, and uses modern variations like the slower bouncer, wide yorker and several other slower deliveries.
"My strength is the outswinger that I bowl after a number of inswingers," Al-Amin said. "Pace is not much of a factor in Australia, I feel. I want to bowl stump-to-stump at my pace which is around 130kph. I am working hard on swinging and cutting the ball.
"Bowling the leg-cutter is also a strength. I bowl it in the slog overs or the Powerplay. I am working more on the wide yorker and slower bouncer, more than the leg-cutter which comes naturally to me."
Al-Amin said he wants to take "12 to 15" wickets in the first round, a target he feels is much more within his grasp than becoming one of the top ten as Taskin, sitting next to him, said. In an instance one realises what one year of international cricket, part of which was spent giving university exams, going through bowling action tests and injuries, can do to a bowler.
"His [Taskin's] target is to be in the top ten. I personally think that we can only make the top ten if we can reach the tournament final," Al-Amin said. "So my target is to take 12-15 wickets in the first six games.
"Taking wickets in international cricket is a matter of confidence. If I can take a few early, the confidence starts to grow. I plan to repeat the good games I have had in the first year of my international career. I am bowling a lot, watching videos and talking to the coaches to make that happen in the World Cup."
