‘We don’t have Tigers, we have Hyenas’

Bangladesh and Barishal left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam capped a standout National Cricket League campaign with 34 wickets in 13 innings — the highest tally of the tournament — playing a central role in his division’s resurgence. Fresh off his best first-class season, Tanvir spoke to Daily Sun’s Muhammad Jubair about Barishal’s rise, leadership challenges, national team influence, and why he calls his teammates “Hyenas” instead of “Tigers.”

Daily Sun: Did you have any individual target before the NCL?

Tanvir Islam: No, I didn’t have any such target. We are always the eighth team. This year we thought that moving from eighth to first or second wasn’t possible — it never is. We just wanted to move one step forward, but Alhamdulillah we moved two. And look at this: every month, in previous seasons, in the matches we played, we used to lose terribly or draw from losing positions. But this year we were in the match almost every time. 

Daily Sun: It seems you’re happier about the team’s rise than your own 30-plus wickets.

Tanvir: Yes, yes, that’s what feels good. Because overall — not just my wickets — everyone contributed. Maybe we didn’t get hundreds or 150s or 200s, but we got 40s and 50s from many players. Everyone did something for the team. It’s like… we don’t have Tigers in our team now. You know, big names. We don’t have Tigers; we have Hyenas. Hyenas move together — everyone moves a little, step by step. Alhamdulillah I’m happy with everyone’s performance. Look at Ruyel — three five-wicket hauls in his last three innings.

Daily Sun: You were basically in a leadership role from the start. Did that responsibility help you?

Tanvir: Extra responsibility… leadership in a division team is a challenging thing.

Daily Sun: Yes — especially in Barishal.

Tanvir: Yes. Calls come from different directions and all that. But my senior brothers were there. Sohag bhai wasn’t there initially, but two seniors were. Shuvo bhai captained Dhaka Metro for many years — he shared his experience. Whenever he saw I was making a mistake, he guided me. Fazle Rabbi bhai captained for 7-10 years. Everyone helped in some way.

We struggled a bit in the number seven-eight all-rounder spot — both batting and bowling. A season can go bad. We struggled there. Then after four months, Sohag bhai came in, scored a hundred and then a fifty in four innings. From there we became better and stronger.

Daily Sun: Has spending one to one-and-a-half years with the national team helped you take more ownership in your division?

Tanvir: Yes. Look, in Barishal we haven’t had enough facilities to practise. We couldn’t train at home for many years because our ground wasn’t ready. We were far behind in that area.

Look at Sylhet — they once had a team like Barishal. But they were champions last year and runners-up this year. Why? Because they have their own grounds — two grounds. They can practise properly on centre wickets, open grounds, match scenarios. We don’t have that. We miss out. We always practise in the nets.

InshaAllah, from what I hear, in two-three months our ground will be handed over in playable condition. From next year, when Barishal Division can practise on centre wickets at home, InshaAllah within two-three years we will be in a good position.

Daily Sun: NCL was very competitive this year. At one stage your team was in the mix.

Tanvir: Yes. Before, teams used to think Barishal are the eighth team — they’ll lose. Even the Dhaka team said this team would lose easily. But Dhaka lost to us. This year nobody could say, “We’ll definitely beat them.” That’s a big step forward for us.

Daily Sun: What needs to be done to maintain this? You already mentioned facilities. Anything else?

Tanvir: Yes — we need proper facilities. Because in nets, a shot that isn’t a six is called a six; a ball that isn’t four is called four; a ball that isn’t out is called out. We can’t get out of this. When we bat on centre wickets, open grounds, real match scenarios, only then we’ll develop true match awareness — different match situations, different bowling plans. The more we stay inside real scenarios, the more we develop.

Daily Sun: Barishal had top-order issues for many years. But from last year, Iftakhar Hossain Ifti has been performing well. How do you see his development?

Tanvir: He has been doing well for us. He gave us so much with the bat. In our Barishal team… last year or the year before, Ifti played the Under-19 World Cup. Alhamdulillah. And InshaAllah in the upcoming Under-19 World Cup we have a Barishal bowler, Abdullah. He will play. We played him in one match.