New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup after suffering pain in his heel and has been replaced in the squad by Matt Henry
Sport 29
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REPLACEMENT
TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015
SUAREZ STUNNER SINKS MADRID
Soumya in it for the long haul Bangladesh top-order batsman Soumya Sarkar was only one ODI old when he was picked in the final 15-man squad for the World Cup. There were doubts surrounding his ability to perform in the biggest stage but the elegant left-hander put paid to all those worries. The 22-year old looked comfortable batting at No 3 while facing some of the best bowlers in world cricket and scored 175 runs in six innings, including a highest score of 51 against co-hosts New Zealand. The cricketer from Satkhira, who believes either New Zealand or Australia will win the World Cup, managed some time yesterday to share his experience of the flagship event with Minhaz Uddin Khan. ever, I have just started my career and I hope I will overcome them soon.
Dhaka Tribune: The difference between Soumya Sarkar now and before the World Cup.
Soumya: I am yet to feel the difference as it has only been a day since we came back and I have not gone out much. Everyone (family and friends) had expectations on me that I would perform for the team. I think there were a few innings where I looked good but failed to convert those into big ones. This has frustrated my close ones. They are telling me I have shown that I have the ability and now I need to work harder to overcome the glitch.
You played just a single ODI before heading into the World Cup. Yet, you still looked comfortable while facing the world’s best bowlers. What was the secret behind your success?
I had faced a lot of questions as to how I will deal with the opposition attacks in the World Cup having played only one ODI which is equal to zero experience. So, this had settled in the back of my mind and I took up the challenge. I tried not to think of whom I was facing. Rather, I played the way I usually do.
You have played for the Bangladesh A team and in big tournaments like the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20. Where do you feel the difference lies?
You crafted beautiful starts but was unable to convert them into big scores. What did you lack?
To be honest, I am yet to find out what I am doing wrong. The type of cricket I have played before, in comparison with the World Cup, did not have this amount of pressure. The intensity in A team matches or any domestic
game is not the same that I felt in the World Cup matches. There, I did not have the option to be relaxed. At the same time, bad deliveries are rare in a tournament like the World Cup so it becomes a challenge for a batsman. Concentration is also key. A slight derail of concentration costs your wicket. So, I think I came up short in these aforementioned aspects. How-
While playing for the A team, we never got to know the opposition bowlers unless we played against them before so facing deliveries even at 140 (km/h) at that stage becomes easy. But, in the World Cup or in the international stage, you know the bowler who is about to attack you. This makes you go cautious, pick up some unwanted pressure and take it as a challenge. I think this was a different experience for me as a batsman.
Bangladesh will be facing some of the best sides this year. What are your plans?
If I am given the chance I will try to continue the way I played in the World Cup. The only thing I will need to ensure is not to give away my wicket after getting a start. I will soon start working on it. l