Mosaddek credits coach Hathurusingha for promising debut

Mosaddek Hossain, the Bangladesh youngster who made an impressive debut with bat and ball against Afghanistan in the recently concluded One-Day International (ODI) series, said the advice by coach Chandika Hathurusingha helped him perform well under pressure.

When the 20-year-old all-rounder walked in to bat in the second match of the series on September 28, which was his debut game, Bangladesh were tottering at 138 for 5.

However, young Mosaddek showed excellent maturity batting at No. 7 and carried his team past 200 with an unbeaten run-a-ball 45 on a slow wicket at Mirpur.

Then in the second half, he came back with ball in hand to take two crucial wickets, including one in with his first ball and became the first Bangladeshi to do so.

Though in the end, Afghanistan won the match by two wickets but with his all-round show, Mosaddek had made his name.

‘The coach told me before the debut match - ‘It’s your first match, don’t worry about your performance. Just play your natural game and enjoy the game. I tried to do exactly that,’ he recently told media persons while talking about his debut, reports cricwizz.com

In both the matches, Mosaddek batted at No. 7 position. He had handed his club Abahani several victories in the last Dhaka Premier League batting down the order - which ultimately earned him a place in the ODI squad.

The right-hander said that when he did well in the domestic league, he had predicted he might have to bat lower down the order if he played for the national team.

Also, the presence of Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan in the middle order pushed him down several spots.

But he has no qualms about his current position. He added, ‘I was mentally prepared that I would have to bat in the lower order. The team comes first to me. I will bat wherever the team wants me to.’

Having been able to carry his confidence from domestic cricket into the national team, Mosaddek is delighted that he has got a good start.

The buoyant youngster now believes the promising start has boosted his confidence and geared him up for international cricket.