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Shahbaz Nadeem sweats it out at Jharkhand State Cricket Association’s gym in Jamshedpur on Tuesday. Picture by Bhola Prasad
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Motivation and confidence in players can help turn around the sagging fortunes of Jharkhand in Ranji Trophy, feels skipper Shahbaz Nadeem.
The slow orthodox left-arm spinner, who has been retained as the Ranji captain, hopes to spin a success story for Jharkhand this season and pull out the state side from years of slump by instilling confidence in his teammates.
Nadeem is also banking on coach Tarak Sinha to help Jharkhand get out of the rut. “I think my Ranji teammates need to be given due importance and confidence in the run-up to the 2012-13 season. With Tarak sir around, we can hope of better results in the upcoming matches,” Nadeem, who turned 23 last month, said.
In the city for the ongoing Ranji coaching and conditioning camp, the young tweaker who made a positive start as skipper by helping Jharkhand post their first win against Goa in the Ranji Plate group in December 2011, added that the boys had been working hard under an experienced coach.
“But hard work has to be translated into favourable results. It can come when the players are confident and start believing in themselves. My job is to give them confidence and expect the best from them. I’m quite sure about the qualities of some players, who can rise to the occasion,” Nadeem told The Telegraph.
Jharkhand has been languishing in the plate group for years and failed to reach the knockout stage in the previous Ranji trophy.
However, the Dhanbad-based tweaker who made an impression while donning Delhi Daredevils colours in IPL V this year, has promised to set targets for individual cricketers besides instilling confidence in them.
“The team members will be given individual targets and asked to try their best. With a target in sight, I think batsmen and bowlers will strive hard to achieve the job given to them. I think this could be useful,” Nadeem said.
On Tarak Sinha, the director of Jharkhand Cricket Academy in Ranchi who has been guiding the Ranji probables, Nadeem said that the highly experienced coach had the capability of inspiring the cricketers.
“We are happy at being guided by Tarak sir. His track record as a coach is impressive,” said Nadeem, adding that Jharkhand stands to benefit much under an experienced hand.
Nadeem, who has so far scalped 92 wickets in 33 first class matches, also stressed the importance of fielding. “It’s an important aspect of the game. We are laying a lot of emphasis on fielding,” he said.
He added that he was looking forward to playing for the Delhi side in the next edition of the IPL.
“Virender Sehwag has been of immense help to me. He has raised my confidence level. Rubbing shoulders with such great cricketers helps one to learn a lot,” the spinner, who bowls with varying degrees of loop, signed off.
Jharkhand’s Ranji campaign starts at Keenan stadium on November 9.
The state team will take on Assam. Jharkhand will also play against Goa at Keenan from November 17 to 20.
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