CRICKET POLL

Following a splendid performance in the Bangladesh Premier League in which he bagged a seven-wicket haul, Bangladesh pace bowler Taskin Ahmed credited his discipline and execution for his feat.

Taskin, who picked up 7-19, entered the record books for the third-best bowling figures in T20 cricket. It was only the third occasion that a bowler got seven wickets in an ICC-recognised T20 match, joining Malaysia's Syazrul Idrus (7-8) and Colin Ackermann (7-18).

Taskin's seven wicket haul helped Durbar Rajshahi earn their first win as they defeated Dhaka Capitals by seven wickets in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League.

"It couldn't have happened unless I had imagined it (laughs)," Taskin said when he was asked whether he ever thought of claiming seven wickets in a T20 match. "To get wickets you need the favor of luck. Alhamdulillah, I'm executing (my skills) well. The important thing is to bowl well, the number of wickets can fluctuate. Thanks to Allah."

Taskin was proud of the fact that he now has the best bowling figures in BPL history. Apart from that, Taskin overtook Rubel Hossain (110) to become the second-highest wicket taker in the BPL with 112 wickets to his name. He also has the joint-most five-fers in the BPL.

"Five-fer is always special in any format. It's a big achievement. As a boy from Bangladesh, my name will be there in the BPL even after I retire. It's a proud moment for me," he said.

Taskin said the seven-fer is even more special because the margin of error is very small in the BPL due to the sporting wickets. "Yes, it's a bit challenging. Loose balls are not being forgiven. The margin for error is small. This is good for both our bowlers and batters.

"It requires better execution, and even with the new ball, the first two to three overs are challenging for the batters. Then, as time progresses, it becomes flatter, and the ball comes onto the bat nicely. So, it provides an advantage for both batting and bowling," Taskin said.