Taijul keeping his focus on hard work despite outside noise

Taijul Islam is going through a lot since his inclusion in the ODI serier against England at home, earlier this year, ahead of Nasum Ahmed, who seemed to be one of the front-runners to seal a spot in the 50-over format squad as the second left-arm spinner alongside Shakib al Hasan.

The left-arm spinner's return for the England series, after being overlooked in the India series, raised quite a few eyebrows and critics pointed their finger at ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal.

Bangladesh team management decision to play Taijul and Nasum in alternate series indicates that team management is looking to see who will suit their combination better, considering Taijul is known to be an attacking option while Nasum is more like Shakib, who prefers to keep a check on runs rather than go for the wickets.

"It's true Shakib and Nasum are quite similar in their mindset and bowling approach with an eye on containing runs while Taijul is an orthodox left-arm spinner who tends to bowl with some flight and has the tendency to go for wickets," Habibul Bashar, member of Bangladesh selection panel, told Cricbuzz.

"Taijul purchases the wicket while Nasum is more accurate and gives fewer runs and that is the biggest difference between them. They are two different kind of bowlers and we are playing them alternatively to see who fits in our squad considering we need to make a decision whether we need to go with an aggressive bowler like Taijul or someone who can stop the flows of the runs like Nasum," he added.

Taijul, who began his ODI career with a hat-trick on debut against Zimbabwe in 2014, hardly managed to excel in both formats equally and at one point it looked he is destined to be Test specialist.

Taijul in his nine-year-old ODI career played only 15 matches, picking 26 wickets with an economy of 4.24 and is said to be someone who can be an aggressive option for Bangladesh in the 50-overs format alongside Shakib. On the other hand, Nasum has played seven matches since being introduced in the one-day setup and has seven wickets with an economy rate of 3.73.

The emergence of Nasum in T20Is in 2021 against New Zealand and his subsequent rise in the shortest format only indicated that he is being prepared to claim his spot in the ODI squad sooner than later.

Taijul, however, seized his opportunity in ODI against West Indies in his comeback game in 2022 by picking five-for after being overlooked for Nasum in the opening two games. The performance has acted as as a lifeline for him in the format.

Bangladesh skipper Tamim decided to play Taijul ahead of Nasum in the opening two ODIs against Zimbabwe, following the series against West Indies, indicating that he has managed to earn the confidence of his captain, if not anything else.

Taijul picked three wickets in the two games against Zimbabwe but that was not good enough to retain his place against India.

However, Taijul was surprisingly recalled when England visited and the series also marked the return of Tamim at the helm of the ODI squad after missing the India series due to injury. Furthermore, a member of the management leaked to press that Taijul was picked as per Tamim's insistence only making things embarrassing for the duo.

It did not take long for everyone to come up with a simple conclusion - Taijul is playing in captain's quota, though Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha begged to differ. Hathurusingha said during the camp in Sylhet on April 29 before flying to England to play three ODIs against Ireland that this chopping and changing is aimed at expanding his options.

"Because we, as we discussed, I want to expand the slot, this for even one lot of experience. So we continue to do that for leading up to the World Cup," he said when his attention was drawn regarding playing Taijul and Nasum in different series.

The Sri Lankan added that this chopping and changing won't affect the performance of the cricketers as they are communicated well in advance.

"I have explained why they are in the team and why they aren't. I hope it won't have an impact. If it does, then it would affect their performances under pressure. We don't want such players in the team," he said.

Taijul admitted to Cricbuzz that he was well aware that he will not be picked in the series against Ireland at home after playing the home series against England.

"They (team management) told me before the Ireland series that they are looking at different option so I was well aware what was happening," said Taijul. "This (playing me in one series and Nasum in other series and bringing me back again) is decision of the team management and they know the best why they are doing this. It is not something that is determined by me or by you. The team management could have had some plans in their mind and they will do what they think will benefit the team."

Taijul looked hardly perturbed despite all the noise going around regarding his ODI future while adding that he is not embarrassed to see people saying that he is 'playing under captain's quota'.

"There is nothing to lose my temper about or get hurt. And look, throughout the world captains have a say and what I want to say is that the captain is not asking for anything illegal (by demanding me in the squad) of did he ask for anything illegal? I performed and the captain could have felt that I am required to give breakthrough or I deserve a place or he feels my inclusion will benefit the team and so he have given his observation," said Taijul.

"Look lot of people will say different things and in our country people for outside will make lot of noise. If you take all these things it becomes difficult to play and I don't want to take so many things in my head. When I will perform well they will praise me and that is how it goes," he said.

"Look you will not get everything in life and you have to have patience and probably I kept working hard without worrying too much about when my wait will be over (to play regular white-ball cricket). I don't have any complain against anyone and the only thing I am focused is doing my work because I believe I will be rewarded for all the effort I am putting at some point in future," he concluded.