Chattogram Royals pacer Shoriful Islam had a special day in the Bangladesh Premier League on Sunday in Mirpur. He took his first five-wicket haul in T20 cricket against Noakhali Express at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Shoriful finished with 5 for 9 and played a key role in Chattogram’s strong bowling show. After the match, he spoke at the press conference and shared his feelings.
“Alhamdulillah, it definitely feels good,” Shoriful said. “As a fast bowler or even a spinner, every bowler dreams of taking five wickets, especially in T20 cricket. So, Alhamdulillah.”
He said he enjoyed his spell and felt happier because the team won the match.
“I enjoyed it a lot,” he said. “And I feel even better because we were able to win the match.”
Shoriful also spoke about a promise he made to help people in his area when he wins Man of the Match.
“I said that as long as I play cricket, if I become Man of the Match, I will give that money to the people in my area who live in hardship,” Shoriful said. “So it feels really good that this money will go to them, InshaAllah.”
He was also asked about his new celebration after taking wickets. Shoriful said it was not planned and happened in the moment.
“No, there was no plan,” he said. “I just put my hand on my head. Then Naim Sheikh came to me and said, ‘Do the dance, do the dance.’ After that, it just happened in the moment.”
Shoriful added that his friendship with Naim played a part in it.
“Naim is a good friend,” Shoriful said. “We have been playing together since Under-19, so it happened naturally.”
When asked if he had any idea he could take five wickets, Shoriful shared a story from before the match. He said a groundsman made a prediction while he was checking his run-up.
“When I was measuring my run-up, a groundsman bhai told me, ‘Brother, I feel like you will take five wickets today,’” he said. “I told him, ‘Brother, it’s not that easy.’ But if Allah gives it, it can happen.”
Still, Shoriful said he did not think about a five-for during the match. He stayed focused and kept bowling.
“While I was bowling, I was bowling well,” he said. “But until the last wicket, I did not think I would take five. Alhamdulillah, maybe Allah had written it for me, so it happened.”
