I found myself in Mashrafe: Andy Roberts

Yeasin Hasan, From Taunton: Andy Roberts, a former Antiguan first-class cricketer and a fast bowler who played Test cricket for the West Indies, twice taking seven wickets in a Test innings, was taking preparations to go to the hotel’s dining room. At that time, he put his one hand into a pocket but did not find his handset. Later, he found it in his bed.

He returned to the hotel lobby. “What do you want to know”, he asked me in such way that seemed, he returned to the decade of the seventies, a dangerous bouncer who is spreading panic among the opposition!

Aging sign was seen but his strength in seventies still exists. “I don’t want to disconnect me from cricket, I never kept me far from cricket”, he told the correspondent.

“I still help young pacers. However, there is a problem, no one wants to listen to me like an old man. But two decades ago young Kaushik listened to me as a result he (Kaushik) is now in such position”.

Before becoming Mashrafe in Bangladesh cricket, he was known as Kaushik. “I am a fan of him for a longtime. I know him as Kaushik”, he said.

"After leaving the cricket, he was the coach for West Indies team in the early nineties. The Caribbean legend worked as a temporary coach for the Bangladesh team in late of the decade. Mashrafe’s aggressive and dynamic bowling attracted Roberts’ attention. After that Mashrafe was directly included in the 'A' team. Andy Roberts was the bowling guru (boss) of Mashrafe.



In reply to a question about Mashrafe, Andy Roberts opened up the untold story.

“When he (Mashrafe) was 16 or 17, he had tremendous interest in bowling. There was no fast bowler like him at that time. He was young and inexperienced but always ready to learn. He followed my every single word.”

The next word of Andy Roberts would be compared as the best complement over the life of Bangladesh skipper. He said, “I found something in him which was in my cricket career especially when I was young. I did bowling and bowling and never gave up.”

In the time of Mashrafe’s beginning, almost everyone claimed that Mashrafe was fast. He was always one step ahead. But, he lost himself due to the curse of time and injuries. He had to face seven surgeries on his two legs. Anyone could get stuck after such situation, but Mashrafe keeps confidence and continues playing.

Andy Robert’s student is continuing playing. He is astonished that he (Mashrafe) is still with playing.

Andy Roberts said, “I am really surprised watching him. He is doing tough tasks. He faced surgery couple of times, all of us know that. A continuous pressure blew over his body. Oh! that’s really painful…”

A huge criticism is going on regarding the bowling performance of Mashrafe. Sir Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts opined that such criticism is one kind of mockery. “Fans always cherish an expectation from their superstars. They criticise when it remains unfulfilled. The criticism is unfair. He has a long career. I think he is the best talented cricketer in the history of Bangladesh.”

Robert knows well about being Mashrafe’s lawmaker and takes it positively. He said, “Kaushik has done a lot for Bangladesh. He is a devoted soldier to Bangladesh team. It’s a good thing that he stepped up on a different way.”

Andy Roberts talked to Mashrafe over mobile phone before launching the World Cup. He was supposed to meet him, but it did not happen due to rain.

Andy Roberts is from a fisher family of Antigua. They are a total of 14 siblings. He could not play cricket till 16-year-old. The next story is known to all thoroughly.

Pace attacks of Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft and Andy Roberts was a threat to every batting order.

He bagged 202 test wickets while 87 ODIs. He was awarded ‘sir’ title for his outstanding achievement. It is obviously a unique matter that such a great man remembers Mashrafe and inspired him over phone. And that’s why in the conclusion he said, “All the best Mashrafe. That's what I have to say him now.”

risingbd/ Taunton/June 18, 2019/Yeasin/Mukul/Nasim/AKA