It was a dream come true for the fast bowling duo from Bangladesh
Staff Reporter03-Jul-2001It was a dream come true for the fast bowling duo from Bangladesh. Theyhad always dreamt of emulating him. But being from Bangladesh, theirchances of realising their dream were limited. However, both ManjuralIslam and Habibul Bashar now consider themselves very lucky to haveinteracted with the legendary Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee.Islam and Bashar, incidentally are the first Bangladeshi cricketers toattend the MRF Pace Foundation at Chennai.Bashar and Islam went back to Dhaka via Kolkata today. On their way,they said that even after playing Test matches, they had not realizedthat they had so much to learn. Islam boasts the best bowlingperformance by a Bangladeshi in a Test match. Today, he said that thecaptain of their team, Naimur Rahman had captured six wickets againstIndia in the inaugural Test that their country played. "However,against Zimbabwe this year, I also took six wickets conceding a lessernumber of runs. So at the moment, the record belongs to me," saidIslam. He also added that both of them had created a record of sortsby being the first to attend the Pace Foundation from Bangladesh.Sitting at a hotel close to the airport, both expressed theirsatisfaction at the way Lillee had helped them. Bashar said, "He wassuch a great bowler. But he was always down to earth. He mixed freelywith us and paid us the same attention that others at the camp got."Of the two, the more Islam added, "We had certain problems in ourfollow through. Lillee was very patient with us and rectified ourfaults. I was not completing my follow through while Bashar was notbringing down his arm properly."While Bashar had played the first Test match against India, Islam hadnot and still regrets missing out on being a part of history. Basharincidentally had dismissed Sadagoppan Ramesh in the Indian firstinnings. Islam said, "He is lucky. However, I plan to make up when weplay in the Asian Test Championship match against India. After that wehave a full series against Zimbabwe consisting of three Test matchesand five one-dayers. Our aim is to remain fit and play in all thethree matches."Both at present, however, want to concentrate on what they have learntfrom Lillee. Islam informed that after returning home they would beunder the wing of former West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts. "He isalso a great bowler. So we plan to pick up useful tips from him also.We have learnt that to fight in the international arena one has tolearn new things every now and then. Otherwise success becomes verydifficult."