Pacers can win Windies ODIs: Rubel

Bangladesh cricketers (from L-R) Sakib al Hasan, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das and Rubel Hossain are seen during a training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday. — BCB photo

Pacer Rubel Hossain on Wednesday backed Bangladeshi seamers to win matches against West Indies in the forthcoming three-match one-day international series, starting on December 9.
Although Bangladeshi pacers didn’t get enough chances in recent Tests, especially at home, they produced some jaw-dropping performances in the limited-over matches over the last few years to become a formidable attack in world cricket.
During Bangladesh’s last limited-over series in West Indies and in the Asia Cup in UAE, Bangladesh pace bowling trio Mashrafee bin Murtaza, Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel performed exceptionally well to win some thrilling contests.
Not only in abroad but Bangladesh’s pacers also put a creditable performance at home, prompting the selectors to retain all three frontline seamers for the series despite spinners had dominated the preceding Test series.
‘Definitely we [pace bowlers] have the ability to win the ODI’s and we did that in the West Indies series,’ Rubel told reporters in Mirpur.
‘I don’t think the wicket will behave like the way it did in the Test and we have the pace unit that can win matches in this condition’,’ he added.
Bangladesh didn’t play with a genuine pacer during the second and final Test against West Indies earlier this week and in the last few Test series at home, pacers had a mere presence in the field during the limited opportunities they were provided with.
However, when it came to limited-over format, Bangladeshi pacers often became more successful whether they played at home or overseas and had better contribution rate than their spin-bowling attack.
In 17 ODI matches they played this year, the pacers took 73 wickets while spinners accounted for only 46 wickets.
‘It is disappointing that we played without any pace bowler but probably our condition and wicket were prepared in such a manner that made the team management walking in that line,’ Rubel said.
Rubel was also optimistic about his current form and was confident about Bangladesh’s series win over the Caribbean side just like they did in the Test series.
‘I am in good rhythm for the last two or three series and if I get an opportunity I will always try give my best like the way I tried to do in the past.
‘I am playing international cricket for last nine years so naturally I have gained some experience but still I work a lot to prepare bowling in the death. My main strength is bowling in the death, so I have to bowl in the death.
‘It is such a situation that can either win or lose you a match. Naturally you need to have more focus and I am working to be better equipped bowling in the death.’
Rubel, however, refused to predict any potential outcome for the series.
‘It is difficult to say whether we can beat them by 3-0 margin but we will play to win the series. All the players are looking confident as we won a good series against them recently and that will surely help us,’ he said.
The second and third ODI of the series will be held respectively on December 11 and 14 in Dhaka and Sylhet.

Source: New Age.