Taskin gets Mash’s help to enhance variations

Bangladesh right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed was seen getting some advice from former Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. 

Taskin later revealed that he had asked Mashrafe's help for bringing in more variations in his bowling. 

"I asked [Mashrafe] bhai to spare some time for me. I have improved my pace and swing but I still lag behind regarding my slowers. I want to improve my slowers," said Taskin after the practice sessions in Mirpur today.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza demonstrating Taskin Ahmed different grips on the ball. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

In the last game that Taskin played for Bangladesh, the fifth T20I against New Zealand earlier this month, he leaked runs despite getting ample pace and swing initially. 

What probably went wrong is he bowled a few wayward deliveries and with his pace and the bounce off the pitch in that particular game of the series being uniform, Taskin ended up giving away runs at a rate of 8.50 per over while scalping just a solitary wicket. 

Not being able to maintain a good channel and lack of variations have been a problem for the 26-year-old pacer. Taskin, who is one of the Tigers' frontline bowlers for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Oman and the UAE, is eager to fix these problems before the showpiece event. 

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is seen giving advice to Taskin Ahmed. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

"[Mashrafe] bhai showed me some [technique] of gripping the ball and said I could try these. He also showed me gripping techniques for cutters and I liked those. Hope that I can get results by implementing these," added an optimistic Taskin. 

Taskin elaborated on the particular aspect he has started working on.

"He [Mashrafe] actually showed me two or three grips. And he told me that it is not possible to work on a lot of things at a time. As we have a lot of matches in the near future, he asked me to keep practicing cutters for the time being. So he showed me the grip and technique for it [cutters] and said that once I get hold of it, I can try other things as well," Taskin said. 

The right-arm pacer, known to rely on his pace and bounce in order to extract wickets, was aware of his abilities and limitations. According to Taskin, he could not become a cutter master like Mustafizur and that he is rather trying to work on his slower in order to bring more variations to his bowling. 

"I am not going to compromise with my pace. I can not be Mustafizur [Rahman]. Mustafizur is the cutter master. What I am trying to do is add a bit of slower [variations] in my bowling," Taskin concluded.