Banned for 6 months, Bangladesh's Sabbir Rahman is working on anger management

For Bangladeshi batsman, Sabbir Rahman, reacting in anger come naturally and failing to control it when on and off the field hasn’t helped his cause. The cricketer has been banned from international cricket for six months by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) following a social network fiasco in which he allegedly abused a fan.

He is set to miss his team’s next big assignment, the Asia Cup, set to begin this Saturday, as a result. Sabbir has found himself in the middle of repeated off-field controversies and the latest saw the BCB handing him the ban effective from September 1. The 26-year-old who has played 11 Tests, 54 ODIs and 41 T20Is, recently opened up in an interview on his anger and how he is working on that issue.

Am trying to improve myself

Speaking with Cricbuzz in the interview, Rahman said: “Getting angry isn’t really the matter here. Everyone has anger. Probably I speak my mind instead of keeping it to myself. Many people don’t like it. People may think it’s my ego or I am too proud. But I am not that type of a person like the way I am projected that suggests that I am an arrogant guy. Anger is definitely not a good trait. But sometimes I can’t help getting angry. I am trying to improve myself and working on anger management [if that is what you want to know] so that I can talk politely even if someone verbally abuses me. I’m learning certain things.”

He has made nearly 2,500 runs and taken nine wickets in international cricket since making his debut in 2014. His last appearance for Bangladesh was against the West Indies in Basseterre in July and although he has been banned for some time, Rahman is making full use of the opportunity to remain in shape.

Though he can’t use the BCB’s facilities till the moment he is banned, he is going to a ground in Mohammadpur to continue his batting and fielding practices. He is also devoting this time to running sessions to improve his endurance. He is also preparing for the National Cricket League – Bangladesh’s first-class tournament – which will begin October 4.

“I will try to score runs. I have failed to achieve my goals at times in the past. But, this time, I want to prove myself in the league,” a forthright Rahman was quoted saying.

Sitting out on the sidelines when his country takes on some of the best teams in Asia Cup will be tough for Sabbir but it will also teach him to take things in stride.

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