Left-arm spinner Abu Hasim has caught the attention with his disciplined bowling in the ongoing National Cricket League (NCL) T20, culminating today with holders Rangpur Division squaring off against Khulna Division in the final at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
In a competition mostly dominated by familiar faces, Hasim has emerged as a rare new talent. Among lesser-known players like Mohammad Rubel from Chattogram and Khulna’s Sheikh Parvez Jibon, the 28-year-old has claimed 11 wickets in eight matches for Rangpur, ranking as the second-highest wicket-taker behind Chattogram’s Hasan Murad, all while maintaining an impressive economy rate of 4.74 despite often bowling in challenging Powerplay overs.
Hasim’s journey to success has been anything but smooth. Originally from Thakurgaon, a region not known for cricket, he did not feature in youth-level cricket. His career trajectory changed when a fellow Thakurgaon cricketer, Ehsanul Haque Lipu, recognized his talent during a practice session and brought him to Dhaka for a trial in the First Division Cricket League in 2015.
“It’s quite tough for a player from Thakurgaon to make it to this level,” Hasim shared with The Daily Star recently.
“I began as a bowler who kept it tight, but as time passed, I developed my skills and started consistently taking wickets. After spending eight years in the First Division, I was eventually selected by Rupganj Tigers in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) two years ago,” added Hasim, whose bowling prowess has played a significant role in Rangpur’s consecutive appearances in the tournament final.
His impressive form in the current NCL season is a testament to his continuous improvement. In the previous Dhaka Premier League (DPL) edition, he secured 18 wickets in 14 matches for Gazi Group Cricketers with an economy rate of 4.26. “Following my performance in the DPL, I set a target to excel here to potentially earn a spot in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)… and hopefully, that hard work will pay off.”