Khaled emphasises depth in pace unit

As expectations of Bangladesh's pace-bowling department began to rise following promising performances from pacers like Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed put his hands up and showed that there was plenty of depth in the pace department on the second day of the first Test against South Africa in Durban yesterday.

Khaled seized the opportunity after only making it into the playing eleven after left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam picked up a slight niggle at the eleventh hour. He ended with figures of four for 92 runs from 25 overs, the first instance of a Bangladeshi pacer picking up a four-wicket haul in South Africa.

More importantly, it underlined a growing culture in the Bangladesh pace unit of proving a point and utilising opportunities when offered, which will surely prompt others to work harder for a place in the team.

The Tigers' current competitive approach in the pace bowling department could be compared to that of India's, where a healthy atmosphere was created through a culture of earning a place in the team and pushing the already established members of the playing eleven.

At the Kingsmead Cricket Ground yesterday, the Tigers largely banked on their pacers as they made a comeback. Pacer Ebadot Hossain bagged two while off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz scalped three wickets as the Tigers for the first time bundled South Africa out below 400 in a Test innings at their den.

At the start of the day, Bangladesh were desperately looking for a breakthrough after the hosts resumed on 233 for four. And they found it courtesy Khaled, who had picked up just one wicket in his first three Tests and recently prompted discussion whether the team management could have included left-arm spinner Taijul Islam instead of the pacer.

But the 29-year-old, who was also out of competitive cricket for over seven months after undergoing knee surgery not too long ago, proved everyone wrong. He eventually brought the Tigers back into the game by getting two consecutive wickets on the second morning after having scalped South African skipper Dean Elger on the first day.

Skipper Mominul Haque opted to hand the second new ball to Khaled and he repaid the faith by first removing Kyle Verreynne with a length delivery that came back in sharply and trapped him leg before, which stood despite a review. He then dismissed Wiaan Mulder off the next delivery, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy taking a sharp catch that came from the edge of the bat.

"He bowled in a very good channel. More importantly, Khaled bowled a lot closer to the stumps. He never looked tired because of good fitness. Having an easy action also helped him. He also bowled at a decent pace, averaging over 130 kmph, and his ploy to hit the top of the off-stump worked really well," prominent pace bowling coach Sarwar Imran told The Daily Star.

The fact that on a day when Taskin, the hero of the ODI series, went wicketless and Ebadot, who was instrumental in the historic Mount Maunganui Test win earlier this year, played second fiddle, someone like Khaled stepping up reflects a new beginning for the Tigers.

"Obviously Khaled didn't get enough support from the other pacers if I talk about bowling partnerships. Taskin seemed to struggle in the first innings and Ebadot was also not at his best. But it was good to see Khaled utilise the opportunity and it helps develop a good culture within the team," Imran added.