Mushtaq Impressed by Young Spinners at Bowler Hunt, Targets Spinners for All Three Formats

Bangladesh spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed has expressed optimism about the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) 'Robi Bowler Hunt' initiative to find talented bowlers across the country. He said several talented young spinners have been found through the programme.

Speaking to the media on Sunday (1 November), the former Pakistan leg-spinner said his goal is not just mystery spinners, but good, consistent spinners who can be effective in all three formats of international cricket. To that end, he is emphasising teaching young bowlers the fundamentals of bowling and the right process.

The 'Robi Bowler Hunt 2026', a joint initiative of the BCB and mobile operator Robi Axiata, was held in various regions of the country in October. Alongside local coaches and former cricketers, foreign specialists such as Mushtaq Ahmed and former West Indies pacer Corey Collymore were involved in the programme.

Expressing satisfaction with the event, Mushtaq said: 'It really is a wonderful initiative. I can see many young, talented spinners here. The credit for this goes to the BCB and sponsor Robi. If we can pick a few good spinners from here, the future of Bangladesh's spin department will be very bright, InshaAllah.'

Asked what he is teaching the youngsters, Mushtaq said he wants to strengthen their bowling fundamentals first. In his view, if the simple and essential things are mastered well, a bowler can perform consistently for a long time. He said: 'I am trying to teach them the very basics. Very simple things, which people can remember longer than anything else. We are teaching them the fundamentals they need as spinners.'

Mushtaq said he noticed fine bowling actions, the ability to turn the ball and natural talent among the youngsters seen at the Bowler Hunt. But talent alone is not enough, he believes; they must be taken forward through the right process. If that process is mastered properly, spinners capable of playing T20, ODI and Test cricket can be produced, he said.

Asked whether any special talent had caught his eye, Mushtaq said they are observing several bowlers. The best will be chosen after further scrutiny of bowling actions and other aspects. He added that several good mystery spinners have already come to their attention.

Finding mystery spinners, however, is not Mushtaq's only goal. He said: 'Mystery spinners are important, but what we need is a good spinner. Many left-arm and off-spinners are succeeding in international cricket now. So we are looking for any good spinner, not just a specific mystery spinner.'

Mushtaq believes mystery spinners can be more effective in white-ball cricket. Test cricket, however, needs spinners who can bowl good line and length consistently over long periods. In his view, whether someone plays as a spinner, batter or pacer, consistent performance is impossible without strong fundamentals.

The 'Robi Bowler Hunt 2026' was formally launched on 15 September at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. Starting from Sylhet, selection activities were held at various places across the country's eight divisions. The event was held at nine venues in total, including two trials in Dhaka. Both pace and spin bowlers from the women's and men's categories could take part.

More than 25,000 registrations were received from across the country for the initiative. After the selection process, 143 promising bowlers were identified, of whom 56 pacers were selected for a specialised camp. After the final selection, there is a plan to take 12 bowlers into the BCB's High Performance (HP) programme for advanced training and grooming. Earlier Bowler Hunt initiatives produced cricketers such as pacers Rubel Hossain and Ebadot Hossain and Rishad Hossain.