Rookie Rishad Hossain Seeks Ponting’s Insights in First BBL Season

Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain is looking forward to learning from Ricky Ponting during his debut season in the Big Bash League with the Hobart Hurricanes. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has granted Rishad a No Objection Certificate for the entire season, starting December 14. Having recently completed a white-ball series against Afghanistan, Rishad is set to participate in the full tournament.

Although Rishad was selected by the Hurricanes last season, he couldn’t join due to commitments with the Bangladesh Premier League. Despite his absence, the Hurricanes claimed their first BBL title. “Ponting was one of my childhood heroes. I am eager to work with him,” Rishad said during a Zoom session with reporters on Monday.

“It’s Ricky Ponting’s mentorship I’m most looking forward to, more than anything else,” he remarked.

Rishad revealed his motivation to play in international leagues comes from a desire to enhance his skills. “I asked myself what steps I could take to enhance my performance. Playing in these leagues stood out as an opportunity. These matches are hosted in venues I’ve always dreamt of playing in,” he expressed.

“As a leg-spinner, participation in international leagues will benefit my bowling greatly. I’ll have the chance to refine my skills, learning from the best as I share the dressing room with top players. I’m optimistic about gaining invaluable knowledge and experience,” he continued.

Rishad also discussed his pursuit of innovative bowling techniques. “I trust in my abilities and strive to improve incrementally each day, even by one or two percent, without overthinking the future,” he noted.

He is experimenting with varying angles to create deception, a technique he finds promising. “My aim is to unsettle the batters with different angles, adding another layer of variation,” he explained.

The 23-year-old also aims to make a significant impact during the powerplay and beyond. “As a leg-spinner, my duty is to take wickets in the post-powerplay phase, and I intend to maintain that in Hobart,” he stated.