'We know what Mahmudullah has done for Bangladesh. Now I've to take it forward'

Yasir Ali has been around the Bangladesh national team for a while without ever getting a consistent run in the side. But in the build up to this year's T20 World Cup, the talented batter has been thrust into the spotlight and asked to fill a Mahmudullah-shaped void in Bangladesh's T20I side. While the pressure of such an elevation so suddenly might faze some, Yasir is quietly confident in his abilities.

The 26-year-old, who has made a bright start against Pakistan in the tri-series building up to the marquee event, spoke to Cricbuzz about stepping into the big shoes of Mahmudullah, power hitting, weight loss and more...

Exercpts...

How excited are you being picked for the World Cup?

Excited and I am feeling good (being picked in the World Cup) but there is a challenge as well considering I am picked for Riyad (Mahmudullah) bhai.

Why? Do you feel your performance will always be scrutinised considering you are replacing someone like Mahmudullah? Is that a pressure?

Look, I am picked in place of Riyad bhai and it is a big responsibility and certainly there is a challenge because we all know what Riyad bhai did for Bangladesh. I think he took us to one place and now I have to take the team forward and to a good place from there. This is the only thing that is going on in my head.

Going to the World Cup must be a special thing for you? In 2019 you returned from the Ireland tri-series while the rest of the team went to the World Cup?

In 2019 when I returned from Ireland I was feeling bad that everyone is going to the World Cup but I am not going because I was feeling if I could go it would have been great but that is a past now. Now I am going by the grace of Allah and it's a great feeling. Now let's see.

You have been part of Bangladesh dressing room for long time though you are playing regularly now? Do you feel being around the national team helped you a lot?

It was a blessing in disguise I would say that the two years when I did not play I could learn a lot like how the environment is on the field and what kind of challenges I might have to face. I could see those things outside the field.

Your coach Sridharan Sriram was saying that you have the ability of power hitting and he is expecting a lot from you? What is power hitting all about?

I think it's simple basic thing. Power hitting does not mean that you have to hit sixes in every deliveries and what Sriram wants me to understand that even if you are hitting a four it is still considered to be a boundary. So all the time you don't have to use the muscle, it's all about technique.

Recently, there is a buzz around being an 'impact player'? Who is an impact player according to you?

I have a very simple explanation for impact player. Just play according to the situation. The player who can play well as per the situation of the team, he is that much impactful. Sometimes a 20-ball 30 is more impactful than fifty in the shortest format?

Can you fulfill the role of a finisher? You have a played a lot of T20s with Mushfiqur Rahim in the BPL and how helpful was he in making you understand the shortest format game?

In the last two or three BPL, I batted in such places where I have to hit as well as survive and that helped me understand the T20 game better. I can say that I have learnt a lot from Mushfiq (playing with him in BPL for a couple of seasons) because when you bat with Mushfiq bhai batting becomes very easy. He guides you in the middle like what I have to do and what should be my approach and all those things.

You have been a constant figure in 'A' team? How did it help you grow as a cricketer?

I think apart from BPL my stint with 'A' team's helped me a lot to be more mature and prepare to play in this arena and if I am playing I hope I will be more matured with passing days.

What are the biggest challenges of T20 cricket according to you?

After Test cricket, I feel T20 is the tough considering it is high intensity and the momentum shifts all the time so the less you make mistakes the bigger chance of doing well because you don't have the time to cover up if you make a big mistake. I think mentally you have to be tough to play T20 and prepare accordingly.

What will be the biggest challenge for you in New Zealand and Australia?

I think the biggest challenge will be bounce and pace and if I can adjust with it I will be playing well.

It seems you are losing weight? Are you controlling your diet and if that is the case how difficult is it for you to say no to food considering you love to eat?

I was gaining fat and so I changed my food habit because it's a recurrent fat and if I don't keep me fit I might fall into injury again. It's difficult (to say no to food considering I love food) but at the same time you have to make some sacrifices if you want to achieve something.