Sohag Gazi

Seeing an off-spinner in Bangladeshi colors is as rare as seeing a genuine fast bowler in a Indian one. Gazi was first introduced to cricket in his mid-teens and started by playing for various leagues in Khulna. He first made an impression in the first division league for Orient Sporting Club and made his first class debut in 2009/10 against Chittagong. His second season was a fruitful one as he ended it with 41 wickets and becoming the leading-wicket taker that season.

Gazi was called up to the Bangladesh A team which toured India for the Shafi Darashah tournament. There he was reported to suspect action by the umpires, but he went through the usual checks and was given the go ahead for the 2012/13 season.

Soon he was picked for the series against West Indies in November 2012. He made his debut in Mirpur and bowled the first ball of the match which was hit for a six by Gayle. It was the first time in the history of Test cricket that something like that had happened.

In the first Test against New Zealand in October 2013, Gazi scored his maiden Test hundred and followed it up with a hat-trick, his victims were Corey Anderson, BJ Watling and Doug Bracewell. One of his quotes after that effort "I always thought I have to do something extraordinary" shows that it was a dream come true moment. However, after that series he had a poor one against Sri Lanka which then continued through the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.

Stat: He became the first player in Test cricket to score a hundred and take a hat-trick in the same match. He also became the second Bangladeshi after Alok Kapali to take a Test hat-trick.

by Akshay MaanayAs of April 2014