West Indies Spinner Reflects on Bangladesh’s Surprising Omission of Rishad Hossain
West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein expressed his surprise at Bangladesh’s tactical decisions during the Super Over in the second ODI, particularly the omission of the explosive Rishad Hossain. Despite Hossain’s late-innings fireworks—scoring an unbeaten 39 off just 14 deliveries—he was left on the sidelines during the deciding over.
“Yes, I was a bit surprised,” Akeal admitted. “The guy who caused the most damage with the bat didn’t even come out in the Super Over. He had already smashed two sixes to the shorter boundary and looked dangerous.”
Rishad’s Absence: A Strategic Misstep?
Instead of sending in Rishad, Bangladesh chose Saif Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, and later Nazmul Hossain, none of whom managed to chase down the modest 11-run target. Hosein noted that Rishad, with his height and power, could have been a serious threat.
“He had that power, that reach, and the form to do something special. But his absence definitely worked in our favour.”
Akeal’s Last-Minute Arrival and Match-Winning Performance
From 4 AM Check-In to Match Heroics
Despite arriving at the team hotel at 4 AM, Akeal still delivered a match-winning performance under pressure. He revealed the mental and physical strain but emphasized his commitment to the team.
“Once you give your word, you show up and give 100%. No excuses.”
Drawing Strength From Past Experiences
Akeal reflected on similar high-pressure moments in his career, such as a Super Over during The Hundred, where he had to defend just a few runs against top-level batters.
“Chris Jordan told me, ‘You got this.’ If he could believe in me then, why can’t I believe in myself now?”
Tactical Brilliance on a Tricky Pitch
Understanding the Conditions
Akeal emphasized the unique nature of the slow and unpredictable pitch, which offered inconsistent bounce but not sharp turn. This required strategic planning, especially against left-handed batters.
“My plan was to keep it tight, spin the ball from a good length, and force them to play square—especially to the bigger boundary.”
The Black Pitch Surprise
The unusual black-colored wicket raised eyebrows. Hosein even thought something was wrong with his television when he first saw it.
“I had to double-check my TV settings. I couldn’t believe the pitch was actually that colour!”
A Historic Feat: 50 Overs of Spin
West Indies Create History with All-Spin Bowling
In a remarkable first, West Indies bowled all 50 overs with spin, setting a new record in ODI history. Akeal, along with Roston Chase, Khary Pierre, Gudakesh Motie, and Alick Athanaze, each completed their full quota of 10 overs. Fast bowler Justin Greaves remained unused.
This shattered the previous record held by Sri Lanka, who bowled 50 spin overs on three occasions.
Spin-Heavy Strategy Pays Off
Akeal praised Athanaze’s disciplined bowling and the team’s strategic decisions.
“It’s all about doing what’s necessary to win. Athanaze may be a part-timer, but he stuck to the plan, stayed stump-to-stump, and was rewarded.”
The Art and Challenge of Spin Bowling
Despite the surface favouring spin, Akeal pointed out that such conditions also demand precision.
“The margin for error becomes smaller. If you spin it too much, it goes away from the stumps. Too short, and it gets punished. But that’s cricket—we just want to see good, competitive cricket.”
He concluded with a mix of humour and pride:
“Where in the world have you seen 50 overs of spin? It was a nail-biting match, a lovely one to be part of.”
