This NCL, I tried to give 200 percent: Anamul

For more than five months, pace bowler Anamul Haque had to patiently wait for an opportunity to play a professional game.

The 24-year-old, who had been a regular face in both the High Performance Unit and the Bangladesh Tigers' programme in the last few years, struggled to get matches in both white and red-ball domestic competitions last season.

Anamul featured in five first-class matches in the National Cricket League (NCL) and Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) combined in which he captured only 10 wickets.

In white-ball competitions, Anamul featured in three matches for Shinepukur in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) and could take only one wicket while he went wicketless in his lone appearance for Durdanto Dhaka in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

The right-arm pacer, without any hesitation, accepted that his poor performances led to him getting drop from the HP Unit and Bangladesh Tigers camps and also miss out on the HP team's tour of Australia and 'A' team's tour in Pakistan.

"I didn't play enough matches and also didn't perform well enough. That's why I wasn't part of their [selectors'] plans," Anamul told The Daily Star.

After some much needed self-reflection, Anamul focused all his efforts on maintaining his fitness and improving his skills so that he is ready when the next opportunity arrives.

"I maintained my processes properly so that I can give my all on the field. I always go to sleep early and after practice I take ice baths, I sometimes do swimming and sometimes I take a hot bath. My trainer and doctors are happy with my disciplined life," said the right-arm pacer.

"I tried to take tips from four to five top local coaches regarding different topics. I consulted one to develop my pace, I talked to another about my swing and even spoke to another coach to improve my bowling in different match scenarios.

"I even had a personal trainer with whom I worked on improving my fitness. I worked continuously in these five months under their guidance," he added.

When the opportunity finally arrived during the ongoing NCL 2024-25, Anamul grabbed it with both hands.

Representing Dhaka Division, he is currently the leading wicket-taker in the competition with 32 wickets from six matches at an average of 14.93, with two five-wicket hauls to his name.

Anamul said that he had a plan to go to the next level in this year's NCL and so far, he has succeeded.

"Throughout my career, I have always tried to give my 100 percent. This year in the NCL, I tried to give my 200 percent.

"Those who saw me bowl can vouch that I bowled with the same aggression throughout the day. Sometimes I felt tired but still I tried to bowl with the same pace and aggression. Compared to previous years, this year my dedication is next level.

"Along with my inswing, I have improved my outswingers quite a lot. I have also learnt to bowl a delivery that goes straight after pitching… I hope that the selectors will look at my performance and give me an opportunity, seeing the variations in my bowling," he said, adding that he wants to finish the tournament with 40 wickets.

Anamul is likely to get an opportunity to do so when his side takes on Barishal Division in the last round match of the NCL in Bogura, starting on Saturday.

"When I started the tournament, I planned to be in the top three. Now I want to set a benchmark of 40 wickets this year. I will definitely try to take eight wickets in the next match," Anamul concluded.