Bangladeshi Pacer Taskin Ahmed

Fitness, or the lack of it, is the latest excuse offered by troubled national pacer Taskin Ahmed. He had previously stated that he needed to work on his swing before pining for more pace in his search to regain a semblance of form after being dropped from both the Bangladesh Test and ODI sides in the aftermath of the disastrous tour of South Africa in September-October last year.

The 23-year-old struggled with his line and length in the just-concluded Dhaka Premier Division cricket league, during which the tall right-arm pacer picked up 16 wickets in nine games for Abahani at an economy of 6.18.

"I picked 16 wickets in nine games and if it was around 21-22 and if my economy rate was in the lower side then it would have been better," Taskin said yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, where he went for a check-up after experiencing minor back pain. "It's true that my economy rate has been on the higher side in the past year and my consistency has also decreased."

It was a continuation of a lean patch dating back to early 2017, a year in which he bagged just seven wickets in five Tests at an average of 97.42 and 10 wickets from nine ODIs with an economy rate of 6.60.

He was no better in T20Is, picking just one wicket last year. His comeback in the Nidahas Trophy was also an insipid one as he lost his place after just two games during which he picked two wickets while conceding runs at 11.33 per over.

"It all started since the South Africa tour and I think I should be fitter and will have to work on my skills. As I proved myself in the past, if I am able to work hard then it's possible to get back in better shape again. Actually I am going through a bad patch overall, as I am doing everything but nothing is going my way. Luck is not favouring me. I think it's a matter of time for me to get back in rhythm," said Taskin.