“News” Tag
Dhaka – Monday: Shoaib Akhtar has turned up in the Bangladesh Premier League for the first time, not with a ball in hand but as a mentor, and he sounds pretty clear about the brief. “I’ve never been part of the BPL before, but I’ve heard that it’s doing great,” he said after joining Dhaka Capitals’ support staff. “Finally, I had the opportunity to come here and be a part of it. I want to pass on whatever I’ve learned, especially about fast bowling, motivate the players, give them a few tricks to win matches and elevate their mindset.”
That wish list boils down to one job description, he reckons: “My job will be to give confidence, teach how to win matches and, through Dhaka Capitals, reconnect with the Bangladeshis, one of the most beautiful nations in the world.”
Key facts first
• First BPL role for Akhtar, retired since 2011
• Mentoring gig rather than a formal coaching title
• Focus on Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana and the wider fast-bowling pool
• Tournament remains Bangladesh’s only T20 preparation before next year’s World Cup
Why Taskin and Rana?
Fast bowling is suddenly fashionable again in Bangladesh; Akhtar likes what he sees. “I want Taskin [Ahmed] to break my speed record,” he said, only half-jokingly. Taskin has touched the mid-150s kph, a figure still shy of Akhtar’s world-record 161.3 kph, yet the Pakistani great thinks the gap could close.
Nahid Rana, 21, is being clocked as the quickest in domestic cricket. Akhtar’s practical tip for the youngster: “The advice for Nahid Rana is to keep your training level up when it comes to the muscle mass. Fast bowling is all about taking the stress on the body. And the body only can take stress if you have the muscles. And the muscle, the lean muscles, the high-repetition training. And keep the pace up and keep the attitude right up on the ninth sky.”
He sounds impressed by Rana’s raw material but insists training detail and mindset will decide how far the speedster travels. “If he keeps on going along with a great training session… I’ll give him an advice at the same time, if I ever see him. I’ll tell him the trades and secrets of training. If he gets that, I think he will go far. But the most important is the attitude that you have towards life, and that reflects on the field.”
Tait already in place
Bangladesh’s national side hired Shaun Tait last year. Akhtar feels the Australians’ presence almost makes his own input a bonus rather than a necessity. “Shaun Tait is one of the best coaches you have when it comes to fast bowling. You don’t need me after Shaun Tait. I’ll be honest with you, I think you’re going to keep on working with him. He is one of the fantastic guys, one of the most honest people that you can have.”
World Cup around the corner
Bangladesh have no more T20 internationals scheduled this year; the BPL will be the last competitive hit-out before the global event in India and Sri Lanka. Akhtar reckons there’s room for optimism. “I hope Bangladesh become a force in the coming World Cup,” he said. “I want them to be one of the greatest forces to reckon with. This is one of the most exciting national teams, and I really hope they go far or somehow manage to climb up the ladder and win the World Cup.”
Analysis, minus the jargon
Akhtar’s own career was defined by pace, intimidation and occasional injuries—a relevant blend for Bangladesh’s current conundrum: how to bowl quick yet stay fit. His advice leans heavily on strength, repetition and attitude, themes that echo through most modern fast-bowling programmes. The difference is the messenger: a former world-record holder still revered by young quicks.
If the Capitals’ fast bowlers absorb even part of that, the franchise could gain more than a headline act. Akhtar expects the learning process to be rapid; the World Cup countdown almost guarantees that. Whether that translates into speeds pushing 155 kph and above is the next question, but for now the Capitals have serious pace credentials in the dressing-room.
