Former Bangladesh captain Minhajul Abedin Nannu has always had his eyes on nurturing leg spinners, particularly Rishad. The young bowler produced a remarkable performance against the West Indies in their first ODI, taking six wickets and turning the match in Bangladesh’s favour.

Speaking to reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday, Nannu reflected on the challenges of developing leg spinners in Bangladesh.
“There is a culture of leg spin in this country, more in our club cricket. But we want instant performance. So, we know that leg spinners have to be given some time. That is why we have never received such support in the club. So, if you talk about Premier Division cricket, First Division, such discussions continue. It was a very struggling period to bring out a leg spinner from this place. We saw Likhon (Jubair Hossain) in the beginning, then Aminul Islam Biplob, and then Rishad. We had to struggle with everything. It was a little more with Rishad because in Premier Division cricket, we were not getting a team to play him.”

The former chief selector also discussed the efforts he and Habibul Bashar Sumon put in, highlighting the support of former head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and current spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed.
“We had to struggle a lot in some places. Sumon (Habibul Bashar) and I had planned a lot about how to provide what. So that way, we nurse him well in terms of performance. And in the NCL, we made a space for leg spinners, which was how the arrangements were made, so that they could get more opportunities to bowl in the longer portions. So, everything was quite a struggle, but Hathurusingha also supported him enough in this place, bringing out a leg spinner in the T20 format. So, after struggling a lot, the best quality of a player and Rishad, who has come this far, is that he is a hard worker, he has tried more than his ability was and to prove himself. And now he is in a good process, he is under a good coach like Mushtaq Ahmed, he has learned a lot and is doing good things, this is the biggest achievement for the country,” Nannu added.

Bangladesh’s first specialist leg-spinner to play Tests, Jubair Hossain Likhon, made his debut against Zimbabwe in October 2014, but could not prolong his career. On Likhon, Nannu said,
“I won’t say it was unlucky, because he failed to prove himself in that way. He had enough opportunities, and he lacked in hard work like Rishad. So, we can provide them platforms, but the player has to prove himself in those situations.”

Nannu also shared his views on the inclusion of spinner Nasum Ahmed in the ODI side.
“See, team management has some requirements. And, we have to step forward in that way here, at Mirpur’s pitch. So, no matter how much we discuss and criticize from outside about the Mirpur wicket, at the end of the day, the result is very important. And here you have to think that we are number 10 in the rankings. So, instead of thinking so much about wickets, we have to focus on playing good cricket, and the inclusion of Nasum, of course, the team management may have thought of playing an extra spinner instead of a seam bowler. Maybe he was included with some such thoughts.”