Legspinner Rishad to play important role in CT: Shanto

Dhaka, 18 Feb - Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto believes his legspinner Rishad will play a key role in the team's success in their upcoming ICC Champions Trophy campaign, particularly in Pakistan leg.

"Rishad, our wrist spinner, if he bowls well we can be in a good mood in the team," Shanto said in a video released by the ICC on social media today.

Since Pakistan's wicket generally tends to be flat, wrist spinners like Rishad can be handy options, said Shanto.

"Because we all know in Pakistan how good the wicket is. So, a wrist spinner is more important in this tournament," he added. "So, I'm really looking forward to Rishad's performance, how he will bowl in this tournament."

Bangladesh though played some legspinners in the past, no one can thrive like Rishad, who has given the side a useful option to use in crunch moments. His batting, lower down the order, is also effective in the white-ball cricket, something which makes him a near-perfect package.

He in fact shot into the limelight in the T20 World Cup last year, where he finished as the joint third highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in seven games.

Shanto keeps faith on Rishad despite the fact that Rishad is yet to make him a force in 50-over cricket. Most of his success mainly came in T20 format. Rishad's economy rate is a tad over six in seven ODIs and he so far took five wickets.

Opener Soumya echoed captain Shanto, terming Rishad as a game changer option.

"A wrist spinner is always a game changer, so we are looking forward for Rishad," Soumya said in the same clip.

Pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib also spoke in the same video, showering praise on Rishad. He underlines Rishad's importance as a handy batter lower down the order, saying that the 22-year old has been impeccable in clearing the ropes with incredible ease.

"I think Rishad Hossain, our leg-spinner allrounder, is going to play a very important role for our team," Tanzim said.

"He always gives us the breakthrough and with the bat he always gives us the runs when we need."

Bangladesh will kick off their campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy with the Group A match against India in Dubai on February 20. They thereafter will take on New Zealand and Pakistan on February 24 and 27 respectively in Rawalpindi.

The Tigers, however, would go into the tournament on the back of a seven-wicket defeat to Pakistan Shaheens in their lone practice game.BSS