Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: To become a pace bowler was not his aim. But once he started bowling he didn't take too much time to spot by the selectors. In an interaction with The Sentinel the former pacer of the State Zaved Zaman shared many stories of his playing days. Here is the excerpt.
The Sentinel (TS): How your interest developed in pace bowling?
Zaved: Actually in the early days at Dhubri I played cricket just for fun. Most of the time I was asked to bowl by the local players and I preferred to run fast and deliver. That was the beginning.
TS: Did you follow any international pacer during the early days?
Zaved: Oh yes! Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee, greats of Caribbean, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram-all were my heroes and I loved to watch them when got the opportunities. I even glued many action posters of those cricketers in my room.
TS: How did you start your journey in State team?
Zaved: I was playing for Dhubri in U-16 Inter District championship in 1991 when I was selected for the state trial for the first time. Before that I proved my credentials by displaying good performance against the teams like Guwahati and Nagaon. In the net also I performed well and was selected in the State U-16 squad same year. Later I was equally successful in the national level meet and got selected SAI's pace bowling academy at Chandigarh in 1992. I was there for three years and learnt the art of pace bowling at that centre. My first break came when I picked up seven wickets, four of them in four consecutive deliveries, against Bengal in U-19 match in 1993. The performance was enough for me to get into the senior team same year. I also played a few matches for Junior India against England and Australia.
TS: How was the scenario of pace bowling attack during your playing days in Assam?
Zaved: That time the number of pacers was very limited in the state. When I came in the senior squad there were Gautam Dutta and Hemanga Barua. Rajinder Singh too bowled pace but his role in the team was an all rounder. I think there was reason too behind the limited number of pacers. Like now a days the coaches during that period hardly thought to go with more than two pacers in the first XI.
TS: Do you belief pace bowlers need an angry image?
Zaved: Actually it depends on the bowlers. I never tried because I am against of it. I belief you can work and get success inside the ground with calm attitude. But yes, a pacer should nurture killer instinct in his mind and try to execute it in his bowling to take wickets.
TS: What about the present pace attack of Assam !
Zaved: It's very good. Now we have good pool of pace bowlers in the state. Arup, Ranjit, Krishna, Abu, Mukhtar... the list is becoming lengthy. Our junior pacers are also doing well and capable to replace the seniors. Only one suggestion to them- always try to learn something new. It would keep them ahead from the other bowlers.
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