'Probably adding his name is more saleable' - Taijul Islam snaps at reporter on question involving Shakib Al Hasan

Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam remains one of the inspirations for subcontinent spinners. The left-arm spinner came in as replacement for the injured Taskin Ahmed against South Africa and straightaway picked up 6 for 135 in his 50 overs in the first innings of the ongoing Port Elizabeth Test.

Despite stepping up for the side every time he gets the ball in hand, Taijul hasn’t sealed his place in the playing XI in overseas conditions owing to Bangladesh’s new strategy of going in with three fast bowlers and a spinner. Also, Shakib Al Hasan provides the same left-arm option and it that has meant that Taijul cannot become a regular part of the Test team.

Taijul gets irritated while responding to a question in the press meet

In an interview session after his impressive performance, Taijul was asked how he intends to fill the void left by Shakib’s absence in the side. The question wasn’t welcomed by the 30-year-old. He felt that a comparison to Shakib was needless at the time.

“Don’t you have any other question to ask me apart from it?,” said Taijul in a press meet ahead of the South African tour in Dhaka. “Probably adding Shakib bhai’s name is more saleable,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh chief selector had revealed that the three fast bowler strategy was not the only reason behind Tajiul’s constant exclusion but it was about batting deep as well. He added that Taijul could be accommodated if Mehidy Hasan can bat at seven in overseas conditions.

“I don’t think Taijul is not making the Test XI because we are playing three pace bowlers. Rather what I feel is that we are playing eight batsmen, which is why he is not included,” chief selector Minhajul Abedin told Cricbuzz on Saturday

“If we put Miraj (Mehidy Hasan) at seven and bring Taijul at eight than we can accommodate three pace bowlers in the away Test along with the left-arm spinner (when Shakib is not around),” he added.

Bangladesh ended Day 2 against South Africa on 139/5 in 41 overs and are trailing by 314 runs in the first innings.