'The opportunity in 2016 made me the Ebadot you see today'

“It was a winter morning, and I was really nervous. I was trying to warm up my body, but it wasn’t happening.”

A decade after that defining trial, Bangladesh pacer Ebadot Hossain stood on the stage at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday, looking back at the day that changed the trajectory of his career. He was there to help inaugurate the latest edition of the Bangladesh Cricket Board and Robi Bowler Hunt, a nationwide talent search returning after an eight-year hiatus.

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“I want to thank Robi and the BCB,” Ebadot told the audience. “The opportunity I was given back in 2016 in a programme like this is what made me the Ebadot Hossain you see on this stage today, representing the Bangladesh team.”

Ebadot fondly recalled his initial trial in Faridpur under the watchful eye of coach Sarwar Imran. While participants were typically restricted to just three deliveries, the freezing conditions worked in Ebadot's favor. Recognizing the young bowler’s potential, Imran allowed him extra time to warm up. Ebadot initially clocked in at 133 kmph, but by the final hurdle, he cranked his speed up to 139.4 kmph, finishing as the top prospect in Robi’s fast bowler hunt.

These grassroots campaigns have drawn raw talent from different corners of the country before. Former star Rubel Hossain emerged from an earlier pacer hunt, while Ebadot in 2016 and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain in 2017 both used the Robi initiative as their stepping stone to the national team.

This year, Robi and the BCB are casting an even wider net. The revamped hunt is no longer limited to pace; both men and women can now showcase their skills in both the spin and fast-bowling departments.

Backed by a significant budget, the regional rounds will kick off in Sylhet on September 27 before traveling across all eight divisional cities. Registrations are currently open via the My Robi and My Circle apps .

To ensure the best talent is identified, reputed BCB coaches, including Mohammad Salahuddin, Sohel Islam, Mushtaq Ahmed, and Corey Collymore, will travel to the divisional hubs to observe the participants firsthand. A Robi spokesperson confirmed that the standout prospects will be drafted into the BCB’s High Performance (HP) unit to fast-track their development.

BCB President Tamim Iqbal praised the initiative, highlighting the impact these talent hunts have had on Bangladesh’s cricketing mentality.

“There was a time we were playing a pacer just for the sake of it,” Tamim noted during his congratulatory speech. “That pacer would bowl two or three overs while the spinners handled the rest. When Robi arrived with the pacer hunt, it sent a huge message.”

“The beauty of this campaign is that anybody can come and participate. There are no strict criteria. National team cricketers will also drop by the camps whenever they are available. I am very hopeful that from this campaign, we will find four or five players who will go on to represent Bangladesh.”

For the hopefuls preparing to bowl their first deliveries, ace pacer Taskin Ahmed offered a simple, light-hearted piece of advice for the trials: “My tip for the bowlers is to try yorkers, that way, the pace will register higher.”