As Shakib Al Hasan was confirmed out of the Mirpur Test, the Bangladesh squad welcomed emerging left-arm spinner Hasan Murad, whose impressive first-class cricket record has quickly positioned him as a notable addition to the team. However, despite his inclusion, Murad, like many other promising spinners in Bangladesh’s talent-rich pipeline, might not make his debut immediately.

With spinners under constant scrutiny in Bangladesh, any dip in performance often draws swift criticism. During the last Mirpur Test, fellow spinner Nayeem Hasan went wicketless, sparking debates about the need for new spinners to step up, especially after Shakib’s departure. Yet Taijul Islam, a senior spinner in the squad, strongly disagrees with this assessment and passionately defended Nayeem in a recent press conference.

In his remarks, Taijul emphasized the importance of looking at a player’s overall record rather than judging them by a single match. “It’s not about new talent emerging. Look at Nayeem’s record; it’s strong. He didn’t take wickets in one game, but that doesn’t mean he can’t in the future. Such a match can happen to anyone. With future matches, he’ll make a comeback, InshaAllah,” he noted. Taijul also pointed out that Nayeem has been consistently effective on home grounds like Chattogram and Mirpur. “Just look at the past; Mehidy [Hasan Miraz] did well in the last series against India and Pakistan, and Nayeem has proven himself at Chattogram and Mirpur. You can’t decide based on one game.”

Although Nayeem debuted six years ago, his opportunities have been limited due to selection combinations, but his stats remain solid with 36 wickets in 11 Tests. Playing at his home ground in Chattogram, Nayeem now has a fresh opportunity to silence critics and prove his worth.