Sylhet, Nov 6, (V7N) – Bangladesh fast bowler Hasan Mahmud earmarked his six-wicket haul against West Indies in the ongoing second and final Test as a special achievement, saying a five-wicket haul on home soil always gives him immense satisfaction.
Hasan claimed 6-90 to help Bangladesh dismiss West Indies for 356 in their first innings at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, bringing the hosts back into the contest after the visitors had looked set for a much bigger total.
"Taking five wickets at home is always very special for me. It was a good opportunity to perform on our own ground, and Alhamdulillah, I am happy," Hasan told reporters after the day's play.
The right-arm pacer has now taken five-wicket hauls in five different countries, a rare achievement that places him alongside Australia's Nathan Lyon as the only fast bowler to have achieved the feat. However, Hasan prefers to keep things simple, focusing on his bowling discipline and executing plans according to the team's requirements.
"I always try to keep things simple. I focus on executing my plans, maintaining discipline in line and length and understanding what the team needs in a particular situation," he said.
Asked about his most memorable Test wicket among several prominent batters, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam and Steve Smith, Hasan picked the Indian batting maestro. "Every five-wicket haul in Test cricket is special, but definitely Virat Kohli's wicket is the one I remember most fondly," he remarked.
Hasan also explained how Bangladesh's fast bowlers managed to make an impact on a largely batting-friendly Sylhet wicket. He said the surface offered some assistance through seam movement and swing during the first one or two hours before becoming flatter. He and fellow pacer Taskin Ahmed focused on maintaining their lines and consistency despite the changing conditions.
The pacer also revealed the thinking behind an unusual stumping dismissal off his bowling, saying captain Najmul Hossain Shanto suggested bringing the wicketkeeper closer to the stumps after noticing the batter's tendency to advance down the track. "Shanto bhai told me that if the wicketkeeper came closer, the batter might not use his feet as much and could reduce his attacking shots. I told him to go ahead if he was comfortable with the plan. He did, and we executed it well," Hasan explained.
Hasan said setting up batters through variations is an important part of his bowling strategy. He tries to create expectations through repeated deliveries before surprising them with a different ball. "Within six deliveries, we try to bowl two or three balls in a particular pattern so that the batter starts expecting the same delivery. Then we come up with a wicket-taking ball through a different plan," he said. "If the execution is good and we bowl in the right areas, we can get the wicket."
Hasan also credited his stint with English county side Kent for helping him adjust to different conditions, particularly in Australia. He said the conditions in England and Australia were quite similar, which made his transition easier.
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