The Dhaka Times Desk Sohag Gazi has become the sole owner of an extraordinary record in Test cricket. It took some time for the entire cricketing world to understand the depth of the matter. In the history of 136 years of Test, this is the first time that a century + hat-trick + five wickets were taken in the same match by Shat Rathi Maharathi!
The funny thing is, even though this incident happened a week ago, Sohag Gazi has no childish joy about it! Like a consummate professional cricketer, he has taken it for granted and is planning how to take his performance even higher in the days ahead.
The interview revealed some of Gazi's own personal feelings and experiences that led him to act professionally today! Gazi said, “I grew up struggling during my teenage years, with no one to stand by me. But seeing my interest and concentration towards the game, someone gave me a chance in the age-based game, besides no one in my entire family had ever played cricket. I always thought I was alone, I had to fight alone, so to fight alone I had to do something different!”
“I have often heard that off-spinner cricketers have no future, and I have also heard that off-spin bowling does not really benefit the team. So it was necessary for me to prove myself in every case. I am now proud of the hard work I put in with offspin bowling to come to the national team today!”
Sohag Gazi recalls his debut day in first class cricket and said, “I proved myself by taking five wickets in the first match with intense desire, otherwise I would have been dropped in the next match! I feel fortunate to suddenly get an opportunity to play first-class matches from where I learned to play. I am eternally grateful to the then coach of Barisal Division, Ehsan Sir, because he trusted me and asked me to hand over the ball.”
Gazi got a chance at the National Cricket Academy after proving himself with two consecutive good seasons in the National League. There he took 11 wickets, a hat-trick, in a first-class four-day match against South Africa. It was then that Gazi came into the limelight in the cricket world.
Four months later, Gazi took a hat-trick of wickets with a blistering innings of 140 off 99 balls against Khulna Division, the only feat Gazi owns in first-class cricket. About that century, Gazi said, "When I scored 50 runs, I did not decide in my mind that let's take a chance! Let's see if it's a century, and I've got a century!”
"I will never forget the hat-trick in that match as it opened the door to the coveted national team!"
While reminiscing about the first Test just a year ago, Gazi said, "Mushfiq Bhai came to me last night and told me that maybe I will bowl the opening! Opponent Chris Gayle! A bit of a nervousness resulted in Gayle taking 18 runs from me in that over, but I didn't give Gayle that chance again in the third over, and Gayle was beaten by my bowling for the rest of the series! I really enjoyed it!” Gazi may have forgotten that match Gazi also grabbed 9 wickets!
It is undeniable that Bangladesh could have lost against New Zealand if not for Gazi's century in the Chittagong Test. Gazi said, "Before going to bat, my goal was to play as much as possible with Nasir's brother at the crease. The first ball I managed to hit in the middle of the bat, that's when my confidence came. I decide to play straight and forget all the other balls except the hitting ball. This worked, I sat for a century! And then it was nice to see everyone cheering for the hat-trick that I was able to contribute something to the team!”
Gazi expressed his heart about his cricket philosophy and desire, “I have come here after nine years of effort. I want to see where it ends! Winning the Cricket World Cup for Bangladesh is one of my dreams!”
Reference: Cricinfo
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