Bangladesh spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed has said the team management is working on Rishad Hossain's action to help him deliver consistent overs rather than just impactful deliveries, reports Cricbuzz.
The former leg-spinner also felt that missing the third ODI against New Zealand could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the youngster, adding that such phases often help players grow stronger mentally.
Rishad became a talking point after being left out of the third ODI, with many questioning his limited usage in the preceding games. He had earlier established himself as Bangladesh's lead spinner during the home series against West Indies in October, where he claimed 12 wickets, including a career-best 6 for 35.
Following that, he featured in the Big Bash League for Hobart Hurricanes, picking up 15 wickets in 11 matches, the joint-highest tally for a spinner in the tournament. However, since returning, his role has been inconsistent. He bowled just two overs in the first ODI against Pakistan and did not complete his full quota in the following matches. A similar pattern continued against New Zealand, where he delivered only 15 overs across the first two games before being benched.
Mushtaq stressed that such phases are part of a young cricketer's journey and highlighted the importance of mental strength at the highest level.
"I think this (sitting out) is a part of his progress. You know, sometimes when you sit out, what is your mindset? This is our duty as a coach to make his mind strong. International cricket is all about having a great temperament. It's a mind game rather than anything else. Because skill can bring you here, but here you have to survive with the mindset," Mushtaq told reporters ahead of the T20I series.
"You got to have a strong mindset to stay in international level and I think as a coach it is my duty to make him mentally tougher," he said. "He was not dropped basically and he bowled very well in last ODI, but you know like we just want to get stronger in other spinners also and all the spinners have some games," he said.
"So yes, this is our duty to make sure, you know like when people are not playing, they mentally should be very positive," he said, adding that Rishad needs to further develop his googly. "His googly has to improve a bit more like the angle of the googly - which side you have to bowl to right-handers whether it is close to the stump, wide of the stump."
