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Once Bangladesh's blue-eyed boy and a long-term leg-spin prospect, Jubair Hossain, now finds himself in a quandary. The legspinner, who made his debut for Bangladesh in October 2014, and went on to feature in as many as 10 internationals in just over a year, now finds himself lost without an oasis in sight.
Uncertainty looms over his future as no team in the domestic circuit is prepared to bet on him, unsure of whether he will be able to deliver for them. It leaves Bangladesh in a bit of a worry as well, with no regular wrist spinner in the ranks, when the trend worldwide has seen the type rake in the wickets.
While most international teams are promoting legspinners to bolster the strength of their bowling attack, Bangladesh seem to be treading a different path. Currently, three wrist spinners - Rashid Khan, Imran Tahir and Yuzvendra Chahal - feature on the list of the top ten ODI bowlers, and as many as six figure in the T20I top ten, including all of the top five.
In the present context, captains and teams have been more favourable towards wrist spinners, talking up their ability to pick more wickets. However, it has not quite been the case in Bangladesh, who have struggled to promote the art.
Also, the ill fate of young legspinner Jubair Hossain hasn't served as a great inspiration to others willing to take up the challenge in the country. Jubair emerged as a promising legspinner when he made his Test debut at the age of 19, with sharp legbreaks and well controlled wrong-uns. A testament of his ability was when he castled Virat Kohli in only his second Test at Fatullah.
His five-wicket haul in the following Test looked set to end Bangladesh's legspin drought, but that didn't quite translate into reality. Hossain didn't just lose his form but failed to even find a place in the domestic games, let alone at the top level.
Although, he was included in the High Performance Unit and toured England and Australia last year, his performance was certainly not enough to alter his fortune.
Hossain was even accused of not working hard enough to develop his skills. Even Chandika Hathurusingha, one of his big admirers, who almost had a serious war over his inclusion during the last World Cup with the selection panel led by Faruk Ahmad, too had to let go of him, following accusations of the spinner being indisciplined during Abahani Limited's Dhaka Premier League campaign. Also, complaints about his lack of effort during practice sessions had come to the fore.
Last season, Hossain left Abahani and played for Mohammedan Sporting Club but could only play three games before being benched. No clubs in the DPL or franchises at the Bangladesh Premier League have shown interest in backing him of late.
Hossain, who has played six Tests, three ODIs and one T20I, is finding it hard to believe how and why he has missed the bus. Now, he is keen to work on his shortcomings in order to help him earn acceptance in the domestic circuit and eventually pave a way back into the national set-up.
"I am not sure where I'm lacking... that does not allow me to feature in the domestic competition. I am told that there is no place for me as I don't fit into the team combination," Jubair told Cricbuzz. "I am not complaining but unless I am not given a fair run in the domestic competition, it gets very difficult."
Hossain last played against Zimbabwe in November 2015, and has since not gotten close to making the cut again. While he managed to play a few domestic games in 2016, his stocks went down dramatically last year.
However, veteran leg spinner Wahidul Gani, currently working as a coach in the BCB game development unit, is looking forward to work with Hossain in the days to come.
Hossain, who stays in Faridpur district recently rented a house close to the academy premises at Mirpur to make sure he is able to make the most of it under the supervision of Gani.
"I feel we do not have a proper understanding regarding the art of leg spin. We only want to play cricket in a specific manner and as a result we are not willing to back a legspinner who is yet to develop in full scale (in the domestic circuit)," Gani said.
"I was lucky to have captains like Faruk bhai, Roquibul Hasan and Minhajul Abedin as they backed me through the thick and thin. However, it is not the case now and that is largely due to team management's lack of belief in wrist spinners. But on the same note, leg spinners must deliver whenever they are given the chance because the level of competition is high and no team (in the domestic circuit) is willing to wait for someone to deliver ," he said.
For Hossain, the only ray of hope for him in the meantime will be to get selected in the High Performance squad and the Bangladesh A team that will provide him with the opportunity of getting some competitive cricket during tours of England and Australia, and when Bangladesh A takes the field for the only unofficial Test against Ireland A in Sylhet.
"I am working hard to develop my individual skill. I played for the Bangladesh A team against Ireland and did not feature too badly. There are some matches scheduled for the 'A' team, and I just hope to get a chance to perform," he said.
"For me, the important thing is to get a place in the High Performance Unit as that will help me a lot to grow in confidence."
While Bangladesh don't play any international cricket in the next two months, the High Performance team and 'A' team will feature in a few games in this period. Sri Lanka 'A' team will tour Bangladesh this month while Bangladesh 'A' will travel to Ireland and Sri Lanka in the next few months.
Chief selector Minhajul Abedin hinted that Hossain needs to perform somewhere to come into consideration for being selected in the Bangladesh A team but they don't have the right to ask any teams to include him in their team.
"Firstly he needs to play somewhere for being eligible of consideration because no domestic side is willing to take him. We cannot push him but still if anything can be done,'' said Minhajul. 'We are always looking for a leg spinner but at the same time you cannot pick someone unless he is performing in the domestic circuit."
Gani reckoned that Hossain can try his luck in first-division cricket to enable him some game time, giving him some kind of platform for regaining his confidence.
"I think he can opt for first-division league. At least that can give some sort of platform. If he can perform, naturally others will be looking at him but most importantly he will be getting back the confidence because I am sure he is lacking it,'' said Gani.
Hossain has shown during his time with the national team that he can be Bangladesh's answer for their search for a legspinner. The question that remains, however, is whether he can overcome the many hurdles before him to place himself in the spotlight.
(CRICBUZZ)
