By Qaiser Mohammad ALI
IANS
Dhaka : Medium pacer Mohammad Sharif, who returned to the Bangladesh Test side after five years here Friday, is among the highest paid cricketers of the country, earning about 1 million takas ($13,000) annually.
After breaking into the Bangladesh team as a 17-year-old, the Dhaka-based Sharif lost his way due to injuries but staged a comeback on the basis of his fine performances in domestic tournaments.
When he turned out for Sonargaon Cricketers Club in a Premier League limited overs match against Biman here Thursday, he had no inkling that he would get a surprise call from the national selectors for the second Test against India – the first ever Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Sharif last played a Test against Pakistan in Chittagong in January 2002. But after the 2003 World Cup in South Africa he developed a groin problem. After the local doctors and physiotherapists failed to fix the injury, Sharif had to undergo operations in India and Australia.
He returned to cricket after about nine months and started playing domestic tournaments. He toured Sri Lanka with the Bangladesh 'A' teams and then toZimbabwe, where he played one-day internationals (ODIs) without being able to make a permanent place for himself. He was promptly dropped from the team.
On the domestic front, Sharif has been one of the best performers for Sonargaon club. Not only has he excelled with the ball, but he is improving with the bat as well.
Shairf's consistent performance has made him one of the best paid players in Bangladesh.
He earns 600,000 takas ($8,700) from the Premier League limited overs competition, 200,000 takas ($2,900) from the Corporate Tournament and 100,000 takas ($1,500) from the National League for a grand total of 900,000 takas ($13,000).
If he looked unimpressive on the opening day of the second Test against India Friday, it was because the pitch was flat and the Indian batsmen dominated the Bangladesh's bowling attack.