Gazi quietly confident of reworked action

Sohag Gazi is cautiously confident of his reworked action getting a green light after an official test in Chennai last Saturday.

"I was a bit nervous at the start, but after I spoke to Ehsan sir and everyone else it became slightly easier," he said. "One of those who were in Cardiff was also there in Chennai. It was a similar test, but I had to bowl fewer overs. They said everyone is bowling a bit side-on. I have been bowling with more comfort than before. I was bowling between 60 to 72 kph, which I thought was a good thing."

But past experience has taught Gazi not to get his hopes too high.

"I think I went up to 25 degrees previously. This time, I personally felt that it [elbow extension] is around 5-6 degrees, which is the minimum you need to spin the ball," he said. "Everyone said that it looked like I have worked hard on my action. They were positive, so I felt hopeful. But they said similar stuff in the past and the result wasn't great."

Gazi was reported for a suspect action in Bangladesh's second ODI against West Indies in August 2014 and was suspended from bowling in October after his test in Cardiff.

Earlier this month, Gazi said that the biggest change in his bowling action was the delivery stride. Now he adds that if he had known about the kinks earlier, he might not have been reported in the first place.

"If I had worked on my footing and landing [sooner], then I wouldn't have fallen into these problems," he said. "I would have gone with the World Cup team. I couldn't fix it because I was too busy playing for the national team. Now I have the time, so I will work on it."

Gazi wants to play in Barisal Division's second National Cricket League match, against Khulna Division from February 1 and hopes his performances would get him back into the Bangladesh team.

"I will play the next NCL round, and then the Bangladesh Cricket League. I think it will be helpful if I keep playing. I am waiting for the test results. I want to do well in the NCL, and try to play as hard as I did before getting I got into the national team.

"I don't think there will be anything negative [about the results of the reworked action], but if it comes out like that, I wouldn't have anything to do."