BPL Performance Can Pave Ways For Me In National Team, Feels Al Amin

Bangladesh pacer Al Amin Hossain acknowledged that he still dreams of playing for the national side, believing that an up-to-par performance in the ongoing 10th Bangladesh Premier League can pave the way for him to manage a call. At the same time, the right-arm pacer who is featuring for Chattogram in this version of the nation’s lone T20o extravaganza also lamented the shortfall in the standard of the BPL in terms of the recruitment of overseas players along with the organising of the meet.

Q. Do you think BPL could achieve its goal, as the tournament was expected to uplift the skill sets of the local players’ by sharing the dressing rooms and team hotel with the star players?

Al Amin: Look, I personally think that when the BPL commenced, the environment it possessed—I mean, the quality of foreign recruits, sharing team hotels, dressing rooms, and other related affairs—is clearly absent now. You know? There was a different vibe ahead of the kickoff of each edition in its early stages, which included the grand inauguration, logo unveiling, jersey unveiling, players’ introductions, and so forth. The colour of the tournament has started decreasing. Now, if the Bangladesh Cricket Board steps up with an effective measure, it is possible to return to its old glamorous days.

However, there are some positive aspects of the competition as well; like lately, we see quality umpiring and broadcasting that was not available in its past seasons. I would say this version of BPL saw the ground camera along with the spider cam that surely soared the quality of the country’s T20 franchise.

Q. With other franchise tournaments across the globe, the big names are absent in the BPL. How would you address it as a veteran player?

Al-Amin: There is no point in having bad feelings as a professional player. When I featured for the national team, I kept continuing in that role; nonetheless, for now, I even can’t make a cut to the national fold. So I shouldn’t be hopeless, thinking about why I can’t play on the national team, etc. As a professional player, I always have to play God and think positively because the more you think negatively, the more it will hamper your performance.

Q. Chattogram looks balanced in this season of BPL. So what possible level are you aiming to reach as per the strength of the franchise?

Al Amin: Look, cricket is not a by-name game. Those who play well on the field will win. Before kicking off this BPL, everybody used to think that the Khulna Tigers and Chattogram Challengers were going to be the teams in sixth or seventh position. But you see that the reality is different, as we are currently holding third place in the tournament, whereas Khulna is next to us. We have a nice blend of experienced and youngsters alongside the foreign recruits. In fact, if anyone can play their best on a given day, they will definitely win. Perhaps you have noticed that we even defeated Fortune Barishal, who are far better than us in papers. So things work in that manner in cricket.

Q. How much are you enjoying your bowling?

Al Amin: I already have claimed 8 wickets; nevertheless, it would have been 11 if my fellow team members hadn’t dropped three more catches. By the way, it hardly matters, as catch-misses are part of the game. But I am enjoying it as I am getting more swing, and my bowling economy is also low. I always try to go low-priced in the T20s, as it can power a team to something better in a match. And wickets are always a matter of luck.

Q. You played your last game for the national team in March 2020 against the touring Zimbabwe. Do you think that you can still make a return to the national team?

Al Amin: Why not? If you claim a five-wicket haul in a BPL match, it is you who will write for me. I think if I can create that situation, it wouldn’t be a tough job to return to the national side.

Q. How would you evaluate the current pace unit of the Bangladesh national team team?

Al Amin: Every single player here is very hardworking and competitive. Simultaneously, they also try their best to perform, knowing that if they can’t perform here, they won’t be able to continue on the national side. So they are doing really well, which is awfully needed for the national team.