Cobra dance in the cards against Afghanistan

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam is looking forward to put on some more display of cobra dance when they play against Afghanistan in the three-match Twenty20 international series in India next month.

Before making his international debut, Nazmul Islam Apu had already established himself in the domestic circuit and that experience has paid dividends for the 27-year-old from Narayanganj.

Nazmul invented the cobra dance during the previous edition of Bangladesh Premier League before taking the celebration to national team when he made his international debut against Sri Lanka at home this year. However, the dance was not famous until Mushfiqur Rahim performed it after Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka in the Nidahas Trophy tri-nation Twenty20 tournament in March.

Sri Lankan team took a serious offense in the celebration and mocked Bangladesh from the gallery before Bangladesh doubled their agony in their second meeting with a collective dance. The pictures of Bangladeshi players performing cobra dance were widely shared in social media, something which was also mimicked by none other than Indian batting great Sunil Gavaskar in the commentary box.

The dance was first seen in international cricket once Nazmul dismissed Danushka Gunathilaka in his debut Twenty20 international match in Dhaka on May 15. Unlike many other Bangladeshi bowlers Nazmul did not have a flamboyant start to his international career as he picked up only three wickets in seven Twenty20 internationals he played so far.

But his decent economy rate of 7.25 prompted selectors to keep confidence in him as they retained the left-arm spinner in Bangladesh's 15-man squad for Afghanistan series. With Mehedi Hasan an injury doubt, Nazmul is almost certain to start in the first match of the series at the Rajeev Gandhi International Stadium at Dehradun on June 3.

Nazmul said if could play he would do what made him famous so far and that was nothing but his trademark cobra dance. 'I am hopeful (of Cobra dance). My first job is bowling well, take wickets. If I can take wickets of course celebration will be there,' said Nazmul.

'We are doing a good practice, and hopefully, it [the celebration] will be better this time. Nazmul, who made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka during the tri-nation series at home in February this year, has continued to impress with his tight lines and lengths in the shortest format of the game.

Nazmul is now eyeing the second spinner spot on the Bangladesh national team and informed that Shakib Al Hasan is comfortable with the idea of bowling as a pair and that comes as morale boost ahead of the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.

'I am hoping to get settled in that [second spinner] spot and more importantly Shakib bhai told me that he gets more confidence when he gets me as the bowling partner. I am looking to bowl economical spells and Shakib told me to continue doing that as he is there for the breakthroughs and it helps to play as a team.

As Shakib is the number one all-rounder I am trying to work according to his suggestions,' Nazmul told reporters after a training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium in Mirpur on Monday.

Although Nazmul has scalped just three wickets from seven T20Is, the left-arm spinner did show his experience of being in crunch situations during the Nidahas Trophy in March, where his 27-run spell from four overs against India impressed the selectors.