Rishad returns home after stellar Big Bash campaign

Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain returned home on Sunday following a brilliant campaign at the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia.

Featuring for Hobart Hurricanes, the 23-year old leggie garnered 15 wickets from 11 innings to finish as the joint-leading wicket-taker among spinners in the tournament.

In a competition dominated by power hitters, fast bowling and flat pitches, Rishad consistently provided breakthroughs.

He did not rely on defensive bowling or protection from captains. Instead, he was used as an attacking option, often thrown the ball when partnerships were building or when Australia’s biggest names were at the crease.

The quality of his wickets tells the story. Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mohammad Rizwan, Jake Fraser-McGurk (twice), Matt Renshaw, Moises Henriques, Aaron Hardie and others all fell to Rishad’s variations. These were not end-of-innings wickets; many came at moments that shifted momentum.

For a Bangladeshi leg-spinner, this is a statement in itself. More importantly, Rishad showed that he can survive — and thrive — in one of the toughest T20 environments in the world.

Earlier last year, Rishad also had a very good Pakistan Super League (PSL) campaign, where he played for Lahore Qalandars and took 12 wickets in eight innings.

Much like Australia, because of the flat nature of the wickets, leg spin and fast bowling are key to success in Pakistan. Rishad had a strong run there as well.