An Indian contribution behind Bangladesh success
While India are preparing to win the Asia Cup by conquering Bangladesh, an Indian hand is at work shaping Bangladesh to ensure their victory. The man who is plotting India’s downfall is former Indian left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi, who is the spin bowling coach of the Bangladesh team.
Bangladesh spinners have been brilliant throughout this tournament mainly due to Joshi’s tips. Joshi, who has played for India in 15 Tests and 69 One Day Internationals as an effective slow left-arm orthodox spinner, knows what a spinner has to do to be effective in ODIs.
Speaking to Gulf News, Joshi said: “I am so happy with the way my spinners have bowled in this tournament. They have tied down every team’s batsmen. Mehidy Hassan and Mahmudullah were brilliant. We, overall as a bowling unit, have done well.”
Joshi, who produced a deadly spell of 10 overs six maidens, six runs and five wickets in a ODI against the mighty South Africa to bowl them out for 117 runs and give India an eightwicket win in Nairobi in September 1999 and incidentally has the best bowling figures in Tests against Bangladesh with also a five-wicket haul, is delighted with the way the Bangladesh spinners are working hard.
“The happiest moment for a coach is when the players execute their skills,” he said. “I feel really happy at the way not only our spinners have played but the team as a whole have played in this Asia Cup. A victory in the final will be an apt reward for their hard work.”