The new kid on the block, who has not only got a smooth run-up and action, but also capable moving the ball both ways. The only thing he needs to work on is his speed, which can make him the next left-arm paceman after now selector Golam Nowsher Prince.

It was no surprise when he walked into the national team after claiming 21 first-class wickets including a seven-wicket haul against Kent for the Bangladesh A on their recent tour of England.

His arrival on the senior team also ended the selectors' long wait for a bowler who could add some variety to the attack.

The 21-year-old from Jhikar-gacha, Jessore, feels that he has the ability to cope with the pressure at the international level but admitted that there are always areas to improve on.

"I have realised after playing two one-dayers that there is no alternative to hard work at this level. There is a gulf of difference between domestic and international circuit," a soft-spoken Rasel told at the team's Taj Samudra Hotel over breakfast on Saturday.

"Accuracy is very important. I did not struggle to adjust to the conditions here, which is very familiar to me. But I was able to move the ball more in the first match than the second one because of the wicket. I stuck to the basics and tried to land the ball in the right areas," said Rasel, who took 2-42 on debut and captured 1-49 in the second match.

His figures at the Premadasa Stadium, where the home side amassed 295-5, was most economical among the three pacers and not far behind the two spinners, who gave away 47 runs each.

In his first spell, Rasel returned with 7-1-30-0 and was the only bowler to have a maiden in the match.

"I was not bowling for wickets actually. I think I bowled well but the Sri Lankan players have more experience. They played better and you cannot restrict shots from a guy like Sanath Jayasuriya. They never miss a loose ball, which is the main difference between us and them. Jayasuriya even can smack a good ball. That is why I have to bowl at the right spot.

"Dav (Whatmore) told me that the Lankans are very strong square of the wicket. So I was bowling on the off-middle line. Still, I got hit when the ball swung a bit."

Rasel, who made his domestic cricket debut for Abahani and played for Biman, learned the tricks from his Khulna Division teammate and skipper Monjurul Islam, another left-arm pacer who has lost his place in the national side.

His international wicket was his idol Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka's leading pace bowler.

"I could have sent back Upul Tharanga had he not been dropped at slip early (at the Sinhalese Cricket Club ground). But I was very pleased to dismiss Vaas for my maiden one-day wicket. I want to have a chat with him about reverse swing and how to develop a stock-ball, which swings in to the right-handers," said the eldest of two brothers and a sister, whose career best first class figure is 8-48 against Barisal and best in a match is 11 wickets against Dhaka.

Rasel, also selected for the Test series, said that he was not afraid of new challenges and was now hoping to earn his first Test cap on this trip.