On Wednesday, security guards at Abu Dhabi's Park Rotana Hotel, where the Bangladesh players are residing, did not allow media lenses inside. While the touring journalists were wondering what to do, Nasum Ahmed, the Tigers savior from the night before against Afghanistan, appeared outside on the roadside with a bandaged thumb.
Bangladeshi cricketers are often heavily influenced by social media, and Nasum is no exception.
Just before the Asia Cup, discussions around his personal matters on social media were troubling him. As one-sided comments fueled a social media trial against him, he expressed his frustrations to close ones but chose to respond with silence.
Upon arriving in the UAE, he threw himself into training, knowing fully well that he will not get picked in the XI from the start, but whenever the chance came, he had to give everything as failure would only worsen the trolling.
He walked onto the field against Afghanistan on Tuesday for his first match in this year's Asia Cup, carrying a mountain of pressure. For the Tigers too, it was a do-or-die contest as a defeat would seal their exit from the tournament.
Defending 154 runs, the left-arm spinner bowled the first over and gave Bangladesh an ideal start. His first delivery skidded a bit, the seam making it look like a pacer's in-swinger, and struck left-hander Sedikullah Atal on the pads, who didn't even bother to review after being adjudged LBW.
Nasum then bowled five dot deliveries on the trot to turn it into a maiden wicket over, putting the Afghan batters under pressure straight away. He ended the night with two wickets for just 11 runs in four overs, earning the player-of-the-match award.
The 30-year-old had hurt his right thumb while trying to stop a ball in the match. That same finger was wrapped in a temporary bandage the next day. When asked about his condition before leaving for Dubai, he said, "Yes, there was pain, but now it's okay. Hopefully it won't be a problem."
During the ICC World Cup in 2023, his name got tangled in an incident involving head coach Chandika Hathurusingha. Since then, his white-ball career has drifted off a bit, him getting called up for one series but getting discarded in the next.
In an international career spanning four-and-half years, Nasum feels he has already written a few comeback stories. But considering the context and circumstances, this one felt extra special, "No, there were quite a few like this before. But yesterday was a little more special. Yesterday was a do-or-die match for us. That's why it feels extra special."
He has to live with the constant uncertainty of being in and out of the squad. If the team doesn't play an extra spinner, he usually doesn't get into the XI. For Nasum, the challenge has always been to stay ready, "To tell the truth, I'm always prepared to play. Whenever the chance comes, I try to give my best. Alhamdulillah, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but for this I give countless thanks to Allah that I could perform like this."
