‘Even during the flood, I was running’

‘even during the flood, i was running'0 

After making his debut in a test match back in November of 2018, Khaled Ahmed went on to participate in another test match at Hamilton in 2019 before he was sidelined by an injury. Khaled reemerged as a type of red-ball specialist with strong performances, particularly when he was playing away from home. During the epidemic, Khaled had been waiting in the wings.

Even though he had trouble performing well at home, he has been able to make a name for himself with his efforts on the road. Khaled speaks about the two captains he has played under so far in Tests, how his bowling tends to be at home and away from home, working with Donald, and visiting the “white-ball camp” in Sylhet last month with Abdullah Al Mehdi from The Daily Star. Khaled also talks about working with Donald.

DS: Tell me about how you were involved with the white-ball squad in Sylhet. How did it come about?

Khaled Ahmed (KA): Prior to the event, I was informed that I needed to be in Sylhet. Because I was about to compete in [DPL] Super League, I was given the advice to “Come with us and let’s see what happens.”

DS: Has Hathurusingha been trying to reach you?

KA: Yes, he got in touch with me directly.

DS: How did you like the camp?

KA: Because I play red-ball cricket the most of the time, he [Hathurusingha] didn’t see me playing with the white ball, so he wanted to watch. During the time that I bowled there, he discussed things such as what to do in death overs and other aspects of the game. He advised me that I needed to be prepared in case an opportunity presented itself in the future since there is a possibility that I will have one. He explained to me how the various circumstances are handled differently in white-ball.

DS: What are your anticipations for the white-ball format?

KA: If I have the chance, I will do my best to perform well in the game.

DS: In terms of boosting the speed, how fierce is the rivalry among the pace unit?

KA: (Laughs) It seems like everyone is giving it a shot. You won’t, however, be able to accomplish everything with quickness if cricket continues in its current direction. You’ll require a diverse set of skills, and everyone else is working to improve their own abilities alongside your own rapid speed of advancement. When you don’t have the necessary skills, speed won’t go you very far.

DS: Are you satisfied with the rate you’re moving at?

KA: Before, my speed wasn’t very fast, but it’s gotten considerably faster since then. I believe it is OK if my score is in the range of 140 to 142. It is not possible for me to bowl like Harris Rauf and begin with a score of 150. His tempo is easy to follow. I was required to improve in that area. Prior to this, my normal speed was between 130 and 135 but it has since increased. If I put in the effort over the next two to three years, I might be able to reach 145, but he got there on his own.

DS: How significant is the role of physical fitness here?

KA: Your level of physical fitness as well as the equilibrium of your body are both factors in the equation. There are some bowlers whose bodies aren’t able to handle the speed of their bowling. If your body isn’t able to keep up with that pace, you will most certainly damage yourself. To maintain your fitness level, you need both strength and stamina. 2019 was the year that I first started paying serious attention to my fitness. Throughout the course of COVID-19, those at home witnessed my struggle. I used to go to a great many different locations just to run. My siblings’ younger children became my training partners, and I would spend the entire day working outside in the fields. Even when the flooding was at its worst [in Sylhet], I continued to perform my running in the water. After suffering an accident, I came to the realization that I am going to miss something. I have been concentrating on it, and I have not slowed down at all. I can run a lot.

DS: Didn’t obtaining wickets occasionally come as a blow to you?

KA: As a Test bowler, that was a significant blow to my confidence. I got Babar Azam’s wicket after bowling somewhere around 300 deliveries, which is a disappointing result. After getting that wicket, though, I felt a sense of relief. After that, I began to pick up wickets. The performance that takes place in the West Indies will be my favorite of the bunch. Otis Gibson, our last coach, was a big assistance, and then Donald sustained the development that had been made.

DS: How would you describe your interactions with Donald?

KA: He has a unique perspective and a deep comprehension of the prevailing theories. He complimented my engine and said it was really good. He did not pay attention to my natural game and gave me freedom to approach the situation as I saw fit.

DS: Does Donald communicate to you about the type of hostility that he, personally, exhibited?

KA: It is an organic process that must originate from the individual themselves. No one on our squad is less aggressive than the other, regardless of whether you are talking about Taskin (Ahmed), Ebadot (Hossain), Shoriful (Islam), Hasan (Mahmud), or me.

The advice that Donald gives us is to “keep your natural game intact,” and he promises to let us know if any adjustments are necessary in the future. He grants such freedom to everyone, and that is the reason why everybody is doing so well. He informed me that the postures of my wrists were OK and that I should continue to work on my lengths while maintaining my technique. Simply by observing you, he is able to identify the areas in which you need to improve. He is considered a legend in the sport due to the huge amount of time he has spent playing it.

DS: A number of people have mentioned that the leg side of the pelvis is where you have your first birth. What exactly is the point of that?

KA: Yes, I am aware that you have spotted that, and Shakib bhai also informs me of this. The problem is that I have a tendency to in-swing from a natural angle, which, depending on the situation, may possibly result in a wicket for you. As an illustration, I was able to get Brathwaite’s wicket.

DS: Is it something you do on purpose?

KA: No (laughs). It’s because I keep trying to get the ball closer to the goal. I have an explanation for why it keeps happening. In light of the fact that I am attempting to bring it in, the natural angle will lead it to the middle and the leg stump. I am bowling from a position that is somewhat near to the crease, and this does occur; but, I also have the ability to bowl from a position that is somewhat further away from the stumps, which enables this issue to be resolved. You have to understand, however, that there are situations when hitters are not ready to play a certain delivery on the first ball.

DS: Could you please explain your part in the Tests?

KA: During the test, you won’t have time to think about a lot of different topics. My goal is to obtain wickets by getting dot balls and setting up the batsmen so that I can take them out. Most of the time at home, we don’t have wickets that are favourable to fast bowlers, so I usually have to play a supporting role. I don’t bowl over spells that are only four overs long, but in tests you occasionally have to bowl over spells that are six overs long. In Bangladesh, I am either bowling three or four overs in a single stint.

When I play in different countries, the tempo changes. I usually score between 138 and 139 while I’m at home, and when I do, it’s usually in a supporting position. It would be awesome if I could get a wicket, but the main goal here is to limit runs and provide support for the spinners so that they can take wickets. When we go outside of the country, the spinners take on the role of the supporting cast. Although Ebadot was victorious in the match played in New Zealand, Miraz played an important supporting role and was very productive. Therefore, the conditions have been met to form the team.

I was successful in dismissing K.L. Rahul on two separate occasions [in Chattogram], but when we arrived in Mirpur, neither Taskin [Ahmed] nor I were successful in getting wickets; instead, we played supporting roles. Sometimes the captain may put me in to get wickets, like as when Ravichandran Ashwin and Shryas Iyer were batting against India at Mirpur. I gave it my all and attempted everything I could, but we were unable to win the match despite my efforts. When I come in later with the old ball, I need to contain, and if I get wickets, that’s an achievement. If I get wickets with the new ball, that’s good, but if I get wickets with the old ball, that’s an achievement.

DS: What are the key differences between attacking and defensive strategies?

KA: I already knew that because of how the field was set up. Attacking may often save you runs in certain situations. During the most recent test match, boundaries were being hit from behind the wicket, and the management of the team informed me that I should have taken extra safety measures. Since you are bowling well but going for runs and economy-rate increases, this kind of setup is not a safe setup but rather an attacking one because of how you are going about it.

If you want to make the batsman play, you need to watch the batters for longer than just two or three overs in a particular spell. I was employed in smaller smells since there were three pacers and two spinners on our team. In order to remove the batter, you will need to obtain a minimum of 18 dots. As the pressure mounts, a potential opportunity may present itself. However, you must not pass up this opportunity and must instead seize it.

DS: We frequently observed that the pacers were not vociferous about the configuration of their own fields. Do you choose the bowling style you want to use?

KA: You’re absolutely right, we do ask the bowler what he wants. The captain will then carry out the necessary tasks, but in addition to this, the captain will provide instructions on the necessary tasks. The bowler is constantly questioned regarding the field, although the captain has the ability to intervene if necessary. The bowler is given precedence, but if that strategy is unsuccessful, the captain will take over.

DS: Can you describe what it’s like to bowl on home lanes?

KA: I got my start in bowling on the home tracks, and that’s how I made it to the national team. Even though there was nothing in the pitch in Cox’s Bazar for the bowlers to work with during the previous BCL, I was still able to take five wickets immediately before the Ireland Test. I had the impression that I could perform more effectively on home surfaces. My previous teams have been nothing but supportive throughout my career. Because I have participated in Tests, I am aware of what to do. I experiment with several strategies in domestic cricket, and I found that they were successful in the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL).

And having that duty gives me a sense of accomplishment. The national team receives the same level of priority as the other teams. I am told, “Go with your plan, and I will help you with everything,” and I should trust what they say. Tell me where you need the fielders to be is something that Shakib [Al Hasan] bhai usually says. I will support you no matter what you decide to do. You are free to bowl however you choose.’

When I was hurt, Mominul [Haque] bhai was there for me and provided me with a tremendous amount of assistance. He advised me to keep trying, and that eventually I would be able to do what I set out to do. I was encouraged by him, and I also attempted it on my own. Because he wanted me on the team and the team also wanted me, I was given the opportunity to play in South Africa.

They [Mominul and Shakib] are both capable captains, and both of them backed me in a significant way. Even if he isn’t captain anymore, Mominul bhai continues to do it. He desired to have pacers on the team. Your victories come from your pacers. When you look at Ebadot’s performance in Mount Maunganui, for example, you can see how he did. Without that kind of performance, do you think we’d have won the game? We were so close to winning in South Africa that it was almost embarrassing.

DS: Have you received further assistance from locals in other countries?

KA: Due to the fact that they are sporting wickets, there is greater seam movement. This location features spinning wickets or a surface that combines both fast and slow areas. During the previous test, the surface lacked any real pace, and if we were even slightly off line, it would have been possible to hit it with a straight bat. I didn’t get much swing or reverse swing, and getting wickets in test matches is really tough because you need to get the hitter to move about. Even in Bogura, we always give the batter a good shake. There is a possibility of obtaining wickets by shaking them.

DS: When will our pacers be able to have a greater influence in this area? Is there a connection to the weather?

KA: It might have something to do with the climate or the soil. Rainfall may be expected at any time of the year. The pitches used on cricket wickets throughout Asia, and particularly in Pakistan, tend to be rather flat. Away from home, the conditions are typically characterized by frigid weather. The weather, on the other hand, is not the same here. At home, there is a lack of moisture in the air.

DS: Doesn’t it make it tough to not obtain benefits at home even while you’re prepared for away tours?

KA: We were born and raised in Bangladesh. Consider the success that Pakistani bowlers have had [on flat surfaces] in the past. We have no grounds for making excuses. But in addition to that, we have to be aware of our individual responsibilities within the team. You are able to perform with greater flexibility once your role has been established. You will also need luck because it is not an easy task to acquire wickets. All of Bangladesh’s pacers are currently performing at a high level. Look at Taskin, Ebadot, [Rezaur Rahman] Raja, Shoriful [Islam], Hasan [Mahmud] and myself. It is impossible to form an opinion about someone based on only one or two matches. There are not many opportunities to play red ball, so if I get the chance to compete in a domestic tournament, I strive to play most of the time.

DS: I see that you have experience working with wobbling seam. How do you experiment?

KA: I started playing cricket in South Africa, but before that, I competed in home tournaments. You can’t get something perfect the first time you try. When I first started using knuckle deliveries, I spent seven to eight months perfecting my technique before playing in the Premier League. I gave it a go in the Bangladesh Premier League and then in some tests after it was successful in the Premier League. It was a process, but I was able to get wickets with the knuckle delivery in tests. You can’t just start putting things into action right away. You need to take your time, and I won’t try it until I’m satisfied that it’s realized its full potential.

DS: How exactly does the wobbling seam cause problems for batters?

KB: When there is moisture in the surface, hitters can’t tell if the ball is coming in or going out because they can’t tell which way the ball is moving. That’s the crux of the matter. This muddle is caused by the seam, which wobbles when it moves. When the ball falls nicely, it has an equal chance of going in or out, which will leave the hitters perplexed, but I will know which way it went. I am aware of it through seeing it on YouTube and hearing about it from a variety of trainers. Because they play with SG ball, the wobble seam that Mohammad Shiraj always uses is a very risky play because it increases the likelihood of an error. The inclusion of Duke balls makes the situation much more precarious.

DS: Tell me about your experience utilizing Duke balls in the NCL tournament.

KA: It’s beneficial to both the hitters and the bowlers, so it’s a win-win situation. There is some assistance, and even on hopeless wickets, you still have a chance. I was able to get a five on a pitch that was rather flat in the West Indies. The Duke ball swings more and goes more quickly than the other balls. Actually, the seam is rather flat on the surface, and in order to play reverse, you will need a seam that is perfectly straight, and the ball will need to be quite firm.

DS: When you utilize wobble deliveries more, does it increase the likelihood of getting reverse swing?

KA: No, that’s not the case. Because of how I will handle the delivery, the glossy side will not be affected in any way. I am aware of it and don’t act in a way that is inconsistent with what I know about it.

DS: Does the white ball swing more than the other colors?

KA: The new ball has a greater degree of swing, and it takes longer to reverse direction. Cricket’s “Red Ball” represents an entire day’s play. You need to narrow your concentration in order to be able to concentrate on anything at all. When playing white-ball cricket, there are many situations that call for a new ball, particularly during the middle overs and the death overs.

DS: Are you using white ball in your practice?

KA: I am practicing my yorkers, but I don’t plan to use them in any matches just now. When I’ve built up more self-assurance, I’ll be able to pull that off. I’ve been having success in Bangladesh with the knuckle ball, which is a terrific delivery because it gives you some traction on the ball.

DS: Is it true that you like playing cricket with a white ball just as much as you do with a red ball?

KA: I like both. My preferred type of cricket is red-ball cricket since I have been given more opportunities to play in that format both domestically and internationally. Although I haven’t had a lot of luck at home so far, I’m still going to give it my best shot.

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