Sabbir, Sixers grab a shot at redemption

When Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza spoke to the press ahead of the announcement of the squad for the Test and ODI series against New Zealand on January 23, he had mentioned a few names from amongst those in the Bangladesh team who were making a mark in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) this season.

That he had his eye on Sabbir Rahman, who had just come off a blistering 51-ball 85 against none other than Mashrafe's Rangpur Riders, could be gleaned from his words. Sabbir, then in the fifth month of a six-month international ban for threatening a fan on social media, was included in the squad for the ODI series against New Zealand after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) reduced the ban by a month.

While there is a lot to be said about the process behind his inclusion, the same scorn cannot perhaps be shown for Mashrafe wanting to solve a national team jigsaw puzzle by filling a vital role with a player he admitted during the press conference that he 'had a lot of hope for'.

"It was not a demand, but an opinion," he later said after assertions were made that he had 'strongly demanded' Sabbir's inclusion.

However, for Mashrafe and many others in the team, Sabbir's inclusion is not an individual issue but about fulfilling the needs of the side. The number seven position is an uncertain one for the Tigers as the top six looks more or less settled. The team is looking for someone who can launch an assault in the death overs.

Responsibility however has not been his strength. While Sabbir's Sylhet Sixers were getting ready for a pivotal game against the Khulna Titans yesterday, not so far away, Tamim Iqbal, talking to reporters at the MA Aziz Stadium, remarked: "My good wishes for him will be he won't repeat his past mistakes and I think he understands that himself. I personally share many things with him. I hope that he will return a changed man."

The way Sabbir constructed his innings yesterday – an unbeaten 29-ball 44 that helped Sylhet remain in contention for a top-four finish with a 58-run win over Khulna Titans that lifted them one rung higher to fifth position -- perhaps hinted at a player willing to grab the chance he has been provided.

He had not found things easy when he came in; timing was especially difficult. He stuck around; picked up singles. When Sylhet needed him to, he stepped up the scoring. The last five overs produced 76 runs.

The way he stepped down to Junaid Khan in the 18th over and drove him through cover for four showed that he had the ability and perhaps the willingness to fulfil what Sixers required. He played a part in the win -- just what the situation demanded.

Like Sylhet who have to win every match from now on, Sabbir too has to show responsibility and utilise every opportunity following his return to the Tigers' squad and become that changed man to seize upon what he termed as his 'second life'.