India T20I series to be potential IPL dress rehearsal for Rishad

The upcoming three-match T20I series against India following the ongoing two-match Test series could be a dress rehearsal for some Bangladeshi cricketers eyeing to be part of the forthcoming Indian Premier League, the world's biggest franchise-based T20 tournament.

Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, who missed the last edition of the tournament after the board refused to release them ahead of the T20 World Cup, would like to attract the franchises but all eyes will be fixed on Bangladesh young leg-spin prodigy Rishad Hossain.

Rishad, following his noteworthy performance in the last edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup as he grabbed 14 wickets, is expected to be keenly followed by some franchises ahead of the tournament when he shall feature for Bangladesh in the T20Is series against India.

"I am not thinking that far like IPL but what I am thinking is that I need to focus for the upcoming assignments that I will play for the country," Rishad, who is currently honing his skills in the Bangladesh Tigers camp, told reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

"As far as my dream is concerned ( playing in the IPL) and it is not like a dream but everyone feels that I will be happy if I can play in the IPL and I also have the same desire, I am hopeful that I will play( in the IPL) Insha'Allah."

Since his heroics in the T20 World Cup, Rishad already got the opportunity in the Canadian Global T20 League. He has also been picked in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the Hobart Hurricanes.

While he missed the bus to the Global T20 League due to visa issues as the country was going through a huge political crisis whenhe was expected to depart for Canada, there is also an uncertainty regarding his participation in the BBL as it collides with the Bangladesh Premier League, the country's lone franchise-based T20 tournament.

The 22-year old Rishad was grounded despite being only the second cricketer of the country after Shakib al Hasan to be picked by any BBL franchise.

"Every opportunity makes you feel good but I was not excited to be honest( being picked in the BBL) and if I get the chance I will try to do well."

"I am hoping to play in the Big Bash but at the same time there is BPL so as the two tournaments will be played simultaneously, we will have to see how it goes but I am hoping that I will get an opportunity to play couple of matches in the Big Bash," he added. The legspinner is marginally improving his batting skills as well, aware that he needs to showcase his talent with the willow to survive cutthroat competition.

"I am trying to improve my batting everyday by one to two percent and I hope that with passing days I will develop myself (as a batter)," he said.

Rishad said that he was disappointed to learn that Shakib decided to retire from the shorter format but added that they are confident that they can cover the void following the exit of the mega star.

"We haven't thought about it (who will replace the all-rounder) because Shakib took such a decision, it is disappointing for us and we will try to cover that (his gap) in the coming days.

"We have four to five spinners in the pipeline and we are discussing what we can do and how we can cover his place in the coming days," he said.

Rishad added that he feels his 14-wicket haul in the last edition of the Men's T20 World Cup is of the past and he needs to look forward.

"What I have achieved in the World Cup won't come back but I will try to do better than that by trying to prepare better and as the India series is ahead. That is the truth (T20 World Cup performance is of the past) something I have to leave behind, and need to improve to do better than that," he added.

Rishad said that they are confident to clinch the three-match T20I series against India provided they perform as a team.

Bangladesh will take on India in the shorter format respectively on October 6 (Gwalior), October 9 (Delhi) and October 12 (Hyderabad).

"India is always a good team and they are the number one ranked team in T20I. We hope to do well against them and trying to prepare that way. None of us are thinking that we cannot win the series," the legspinner told reporters.

"If you see when we play as a team we did well in the World Cup, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka series. If we play as a team, we can hope that we can win the series against them."

"We know that the wickets are not in our hand so whatever condition we are in, we have to play adjusting to it and perform accordingly," he said.