Sohan’s cunning plan to help Tigers pick Mujeeb’s variations

Bangladesh are slated to play white ball series against Afghanistan at the end of February after the culmination of a month-long Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Fortune Barishal wicket-keeper batter Nurul Hasan Sohan is already thinking of a cunning plan to understand Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman's variations ahead of that series.

The Tigers have returned from their assignment in New Zealand, buoyed by their maiden win in Kiwi soil in any format after winning the first Test at Mount Manuganui. The white ball series will be a different challenge and the Chattogram wickets in BPL will provide opportunity for the batters to gear up for the upcoming national assignment.

For Sohan, it was important to not only get into good rhythm for Fortune Barishal in the Chattogram wickets, but also gain confidence ahead of the Afghanistan series.

"Ofcourse when BPL takes place every year, we are playing with many foreign players and alongside them. I think the hype and intensity of international level is found in BPL. So, it's important and since the national team has many commitments throughout this whole year both red ball and white ball, with the ODI and T20 series coming up after the BPL, it would be good to gain as much confidence as we can manage. If we can do that, we can have a good series against Afghanistan," Sohan said.

Mujeeb has proven hard for most batters around the world due to his ability to bowl different variations with almost identical finger and wrist positions. Batters often do not find the time to guess whether Mujeeb is going with his off spin, the other one or the one that can be termed as a leg spin delivery.

Mujeeb arrived in Dhaka yesterday to play for Barishal. Sohan's plan was to keep a close eye on his teammate.

"Ofcourse I would want to play him as much as I can in the nets. Maybe then the batters who will play in the next series, will find it easier to pick him," Sohan said with a smile. He will have plenty of opportunity too with Mujeeb set to arrive in Chattogram to join the team today.