Gazi eyes quick return to international cricket

Bangladesh offspinner Sohag Gazi is confident of a swift return to international cricket after being reported by the umpires for a suspect action following the second ODI against West Indies. Gazi had returned to Dhaka earlier this week to apply for a UK visa as his testing will be done in Cardiff. He has targeted the home series against Zimbabwe in November for his return.

"Of course I want to return quickly," Gazi said. "There is a lot of cricket coming up. I am happy that the test is taking place early and if it is a positive result, I can play a lot more of cricket. Zimbabwe are coming to Bangladesh, and then there is the World Cup. I want to forget the past, and start new as if I am making my debut again.

"I have struggled a lot in the 14 years I have been playing cricket. I have seen a lot, and worked hard to come this far. So this does not seem like a really big deal for me. I don't think something will happen to me, so I am relaxed, not feeling pressure. I am the only player in my clan. I have never had a player helping me when I was growing up."

Gazi said he still had not learned the method of his test, though he has spoken to Abdur Razzak, who had also gone through testing in 2008 after being suspended by the ICC.

"I don't also know too well about the process involved. [Abdur Razzak] Raj bhai told me they may put some machines on my right arm. They could ask me to bowl seven to 10 overs on different spots and tell me to bowl my deliveries like the doosra or the arm-ball.

"The team manager [Habibul] Bashar bhai told me after the second ODI that they have reported the action. I asked immediately if I will be allowed to play and he said 'Don't worry, you can play. They have set September 19 as the deadline for your test.'

"I was supposed to return home after the first Test. The BCB tried to get my visa from there so that I can do the testing in Cardiff while coming back from West Indies, but that did not come about."

After being reported, Gazi bowled poorly in the third ODI two days later, as he gave away 63 runs from nine overs, got hit for five sixes, and also dropped a catch. Gazi said he was not downtrodden due to the bad news, but that the overall team morale had been low.

"As a team, we have stumbled after doing well last year," he said. "We are going through a tough time, may be that is how it has been for me as well. We haven't been winning a lot of matches this year. We feel bad about it. I don't think I was nervous that day."