Shoriful relishes Taskin alliance

If one thing that Bangladesh missed more than anything else during their Test series against South Africa is the productive partnership between pacers Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed.

The Tigers were whitewashed in the two-match series. While batting failure was the main reason behind the debacle, it was evident that the Tigers' pace attack looked a bit pale compared to how it performed during the historic Test win over New Zealand in January this year.

What Taskin and Shoriful have been doing in recent matches, regardless of formats, is what Bangladesh have been craving for long -- a partnership that yields wickets for the team in crunch situations.

"We always try to create the partnership with dot balls. When we fulfil that target, all the bowlers bowl well and then there is a chance to take wickets," Shoriful explained yesterday while talking to the media. 

How crucial the partnership between the two is can be gauged from the fact that they accounted for three top-order South Africa batters while giving away just 17 runs in 30 deliveries in the initial phase of the first ODI, which helped the Tigers register their maiden ODI victory away to South Africa. 

"It's a good thing that in the last few series, I have been able to strike a very good partnership with Taskin bhai. He talks positively which is useful for a bowler and when we talk positively with each other, good results come," Shoriful added.

Both pacers, though, are uncertain for Bangladesh's upcoming two-Test home series against Sri Lanka due to injuries.