Dhaka: Heath Streak (41), a former captain of Zimbabwe, who is now Bangladesh's bowling coach, spoke to The Telegraph at the Le Meridien on Friday.
Excerpts...
You've almost completed two years as Bangladesh's fast bowling coach. How has this period been?
My contract ends in May... It has been an exciting period. When I came on board in June 2014, Bangladesh had been having a tough time... In fact, the entire coaching staff began working at the same time... Last year was memorable, with Bangladesh making the quarter final of the World Cup and beating India in the bilateral ODI series... We've begun 2016 by qualifying for the Asia Cup final.
One assumes the Bangladesh Cricket Board would be happy to offer you an extension. Would you stay on?
At the moment, I'm happy doing what I am, but opportunities could come. As a coach, I'd like to improve.
What made the difference from 2015 onwards?
The talent had always been there, but when the current coaching staff got together, we identified the players who'd take Bangladesh forward and backed them.
In terms of specifics, what was done?
We introduced a certain work ethic and enjoyment in the training... When the material is there, one just needs to tweak things a bit. Thankfully, the players have embraced the work ethic and, as important, pushed themselves harder. The results are showing. The players want to reach the next level... Indeed, the next level is the players' goal.
Your take on 20-year-old Mustafizur Rahman, an outstanding left-arm quick?
The first time I saw Mustafizur was soon after he'd returned from an A tour of the West Indies... The coaches rated Mustafizur very highly and I encouraged him to bowl during the national team's nets. It was late on the tour by Pakistan, after the last World Cup, that we convinced the selectors to pick Mustafizur, in the T20Is. We haven't looked back since... Of course, it's disappointing that he's injured (side strain) and isn't available for Sunday's final against India. Mustafizur is such a wonderful asset, reinforcing that left-arm quicks make so much of a difference.
What is special about Mustafizur?
Well, Mustafizur is unorthodox and it's difficult for batsmen to pick his stock ball from the cutters. He's got good pace, which is an advantage.
When will Mustafizur be fit?
We're hoping he'll be fit for the World T20 qualifiers. Let's see... If we qualify, we'll be in the same group as India and Pakistan... Tough group, but the good thing about such groups is that no one team would actually break away from the rest of the pack.
Bangladesh have good quicks besides Mustafizur...
Yes... We have genuine fast bowlers in Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed... Sadly, Rubel, too, is injured right now... But Taskin and Rubel bowl in the high 140s... Then, there's the ODI and T20I captain, Mashrafe (Mortaza)... He's very experienced and a clever bowler. He reads batsmen and it's an advantage having a bowler-captain.
Bangladesh's Test captain is different - Mushfiqur Rahim. Do the coaches have much of an adjustment to make in dealing with different captains?
More than any adjustment, Bangladesh is still evolving in the Test format... We're addressing that issue. Test cricket is a format where you've got to play regularly if you want to be successful. But Bangladesh only gets one or two-Test series, which makes it tough. It's tougher because the matches are spread out. The specialist Test players have quite a challenge.
What makes the biggest difference in T20Is?
The presence of match-winners. The more you have, better the chance you have.
Does the T20 format really challenge bowlers?
The challenge in T20s is different. Both for batsmen and bowlers... The batsmen, in particular, do things which would have been frowned upon by coaches even a decade ago. Today, if you do well in the T20 format, you could be a wealthy person. That's a big incentive to do well.
Your thoughts on the Asia Cup final?
As an opportunity, it's going to be exciting... India are expected to win, so they'll be under more pressure... Hopefully, one or two of our match-winners will put up their hand and make it a night to remember.
How would you rate India's attack?
This attack has plenty of variety, with no two bowlers being the same. MS (Dhoni) has plenty of options... India's always been strong in batting, the worry would be over its bowling. That seems to have been sorted out for now, with Ravichandran Ashwin standing out.
A few questions on your years with Zimbabwe... There were periods of turbulence, especially during the 2003 World Cup, which saw a protest from Andy Flower and Henry Olongo...
That was a tipping point and while I did play some more matches after that World Cup, the last few years of my cricket were spent in County cricket. That was sad.
Was it all politics in Zimbabwe?
Politics in cricket... A lot of it had to do with the selection process and the integration policy.
The final one... Who was the one batsman who made you sweat?
I'd say Matthew Hayden. He was brilliant at reversing the pressure... More than trying to get him out, the immediate worry would be to avoid being hit for boundaries... If I was bowling till last month, I'd be losing sleep over how to get Brendon McCullum out, particularly in the two shorter formats.