Taskin looking to make a comeback with BPL

Bangladesh pace bowler Taskin Ahmed said on Tuesday that he is eyeing a comeback in competitive cricket through the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League, country's lone franchise-based T20 tournament, scheduled from January 19.

Taskin suffered a tear in his shoulder during the World Cup, which forced him to miss a couple of matches in the global event, played in India last year.

Following the tournament, Taskin was sent to a rehabilitation program to regain full fitness and start competitive cricket again and as a result he missed the two-match Test series at home against New Zealand and white-ball return tour that followed soon after.

"By the grace of Allah, I am better than before. I had a problem in my shoulder but now I am better and I am looking to start with the BPL and hoping to start the new year well," Taskin told reporters following his bowling at the BCB academy premises on Tuesday.

"I bowled with a full run-up and this is the fifth session I am bowling and I am feeling better than before. The BPL is still two weeks away and if everything goes according to plan, I am hoping to make a comeback with it (BPL)," added Taskin, who has been picked by Durdanto Dhaka.

Taskin also said that he was happy to see the pacers doing well in New Zealand. Shoriful Islam was adjudged Player of the Series in the T20Is and the pacers also played a big part in Bangladesh earning their maiden ODI win in New Zealand.

"It was a pleasure to see pacers doing well in New Zealand, everyone bowled so well and it was a huge relief. At the end of the day we won in New Zealand on the back of pacers' performance and it's a something to cherish," Taskin said.

"I really missed being part of the win. I always like bowling in New Zealand because you get good seam movement. But at the end of the day, it is our team and we are all one and in the coming days Bangladesh's pace department will surely contribute to more wins," he added.

Taskin said that he is disappointed to miss the Indian Premier League as BCB did not provide him with the NOC. Cricbuzz had earlier reported that BCB is unlikely to provide NOC to him.

IPL is scheduled to be played from March 22 up until the end of May. Bangladesh are scheduled to host Sri Lanka in March for two Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is. In April and May, Bangladesh are scheduled to host Zimbabwe for two Tests along with five T20Is.

It was learnt that Taskin went to meet some BCB high-ups at the board's office recently so as to get permission to skip the Zimbabwe series, but that didn't eventualize.

Taskin can surely claim to be unlucky when it comes to IPL. He missed the chance in 2022 when Lucknow Super Giants wanted to sign him as Mark Wood's replacement but BCB didn't release him.

"I had three chances in the IPL and I missed this time too and it feels bad because as a cricketer everyone wants to play in all the franchise leagues. It is not only IPL, I get offer from different leagues too," said Taskin.

"When the offer comes, the board doesn't want to release me for different reasons; sometimes we have games and sometimes it's because of my health. I have spoken with the board and they told me that they will consider (my case to play in different franchise leagues). But certainly I don't feel good missing these franchise leagues because everyone wants to play and so do I.

"I am living with the hope that in future when a chance will come I will get to play."