Despite losing the ODI series 2-1, the Tigers tasted their first victory against the Culinary nation in the small format by defeating the world champions England in the first T20 in Chittagong. Nazmul Hoson played an impeccable innings of 51 runs off 30 balls on the way to this memorable success of 156 runs, while Hasan Mahmud is the hero behind the scenes. Even after picking up 134 runs in the 11th over, the innings of the English team with all batsmen stopped around 150.
The pacer, who spent 21 runs in the first two overs, returned to the death with just 5 runs in his last two overs to send Jos Buttler and Sam Curran to the dressing room. It is like the fire of a fearless cricket hidden behind a childlike face; The one who loves to take the challenge of showing his character is the ball after hitting a six. The 23-year-old young right-arm pacer is aiming for at least five hundred wickets in every format.
‘My thoughts are ball by ball. If I can dot one ball, I think about the next ball. Even if it’s a boundary, I stay on my strength, hit the ball that I like. At that time I like to show my character. I want to take that challenge.’ Hasan Mahmud was speaking to the media after practice on Saturday, with the second T20 of the series ahead in Mirpur today. The road to winning the challenge against England was not easy.
Jos Buttler hit a six off the last two balls of his second over. Later, the English captain was on strike with the first ball of the third over. Hasan did not try anything extra after seeing Buttler who was playing well after completing his half century. Rather, he said that he succeeded in his plan, ‘At that time… he who hit me with two sixes in a row, I did not look at that six. I did not see what he was doing. I was just wondering what to do.
My challenge in the last two overs was to somehow give less runs in these two overs. That’s what I tried to do.’ He also added, ‘There are 4 overs in T20. It ends very quickly. At that time the batsman wants to hit from the start. We also think of giving less runs from the start. That’s the difference. The type of ball where dots can be found, I try more.’
Hasan was in great form in the last BPL as well. Tanveer jointly took 17 wickets with Islam. Bowling regularly in the death overs for Rangpur Riders, he spent less than 8 runs per over (7.98). In one match against Comilla, he attempted 12 consecutive yorkers in the death overs and was successful in most deliveries. 15 wickets in 11 T20 career. His best bowling was 3 for 47 against India in the last World Cup.
He mentioned that getting a wicket against a team like India was a big motivation even though it cost runs that day. Hasan’s emergence in the midst of losing himself to the wonder of Bangladesh Mustafizur Rahman in pace bowling, Hasan Mahmud is dreaming anew as a partner of Taskin Ahmed who has broken himself and gradually become pure gold.
