Selection Committee of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has just announced 15 members squad for the ensuing ICC World Cup Cricket tournament 2019 scheduled to start in England and Wales from end May.
There have been interesting speculations in the print, electronic and social media for a while about the selection. BCB president Nazmul Hasan Papon triggered the speculation through almost announcing the team.
Analysts and former cricketers joined the chorus and made their own predictions. But justifiably it is BCB selectors who called the short.
Selectors announced 15 members squad and added two more for the ensuing tri nation ODI series preceding the main event. There is still time till May 23 for making changes if required in the squad for injury or otherwise. ICC has kept that option open.
The squad is:
Mashrafee Bin Murstaza( Captain) , Shakib Al Hasan ( Vice Captain) , TamimIqbal , Liton Kumar Das . MushfiqurRahim ,MahmudullahRiad , Mohammad Mithun , SabbirRahman , MosaddeqHossain, MehedyHasanMeraj, Mohammad Saifuddin, SoumyaSarkar, RubelHossain, MustafizurRahman and Abu JayedRahi
The two additional players selected to go with the team for tri nation series are Yasir Ali Rabbi and Naeem Hasan .
Obviously any selection will come under serious scrutiny. Nothing is perfect in this world. Circumstances alter cases. In 1999, present BCCB selection committee Chief Mihazul Anedin Nannu was not there in the original squad. He was included on popular demand and top level intervention.
ICC Championship winning performer Akram Khan was not included in 2003 squad. Khlaed Masud Pilot had to be excluded in 2007 squad. Mashrafee’s heart was broken in 2011 ICC World cup in Bangladesh, feeling sorry for Taskin this time. Circumstances alter cases.
If one looks at the composition of the squad selected there can be some discussions about selection of Soumya and Sabbir as both could not make justice to their names in recent time in domestic cricket. Some other players in their positions did exceptionally well scoring tons of runs.
But we must remember ICC World cup is a top tournament played in every four years. Form is an issue all right. But experience counts. Soumya and Sabbir were star performers in the ICC world cup 2015. They played some impact innings in international cricket in the recent past also. Both are young and athletic. There are chances of them finding form and delivering. Both can bowl a bit and are excellent fielders. Who could come under considerations?
Anamul Haque (Bijoy) or Imrul Kayes in place of Soumya Sarkar ? I do not think so. Imrul at this moment is not in his peak form and Bijoy has not played in international cricket for a long time. In English, condition it will be a huge risk taking a player out of touch with international cricket for a while.
Young prodigee Yasir Ali could be an option and could be gambled with. But Sabbir and Mosaddeq have been preferred for their past proven performances .Yasir is in the squad as reserve player for the tri nation series in Ireland. Extraordinary performance can get him there who knows.
Apart from these, there can be some discussions about the selection of rookie Abu Jayed Rahi ahead of Shafiul Islam and Taskin Ahmed. Well Taskin would have been automatic choice if he was 100% match fit. But he has just started feeling his way and may still take some time to get into his brilliant best. He could be included in the squad for tri nation series.
A fully fit Taskin can be a match winner in English condition. Abu Jayed can move the ball at pace in either direction and has seam movement. If he can control his line, he can prove very useful in English condition, I think selectors thought a lot between Shafiul and Jayed before finally setting their mind.
Farhad Reza was another player who came in the reckoning as pace bowling all rounder. But everyone would agree that Mohammad Saifuddin will be much better bet for that.
Mosaddeq’s choice has raised few questions. But he is a proven performer in international cricket. He can make useful contribution with the bat at number 6 or 7 and can bowl few overs of spin. He can cover for Mahmdullah and his not 100% shoulders may restrict his bowling ability.
Rest of the team picks themselves. Hopefully, fabulous five appears at the brilliant best. This may be the last time; all five will appear in Bangladesh color.
Tamim is expected playing his rock and roll explosive form. Liton is expected to do well. Selectors preferred Liton for left and right combination at the top. Most of the opponent teams Englabd, Australia , New Zealand , South Africa , West Indies , Pakistan have blistering fast pace attack .
Bangladesh must start well. We are not sure who will bat at three. In 2015, World cup Mahmudullah Riad was an instant success scoring two centuries. Shakib and Sabbir have been tried in the past. But we think it would depend on match situation. Shakib’s match fitness has not been tested for a while after his injury. Sabbir also will be better a bit at later order. In that case Mohammad Mithun may be ideal choice .Four, five and six would be rotated among Sahkib, Mushfique and Mahmudullah.
Either Sabbir or Mosaddeq would bat at eight. We are sure Siafuddin, Mashrafee and Mustafiz will make the team. Meraj ,Rubel and Jayed will have to wait for team combination and particular opponents .
English summer these days are very hot. ICC loves batting friendly wickets. Runs will be there in plenty. Bowlers will have to bowl in the right channel to restrict opponents below 300. Hope Bangladesh bowls and fields well. Young legs in the team will be useful bet. Mashrafee will lead with enigma for sure. Hope the champion player would sign off with a bang.
Anyway World Cup, this time is a long distance run. Every team will require playing against every other team. A team will require winning at least 6 matches to qualify for round of four. It will require players remaining fit and paying consistently well.
Host England, defending champions Australia, strong India are considered jot favorites. New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and West Indies are also strong teams. Even Afghanistan has some world class impact players. At least as many as seven teams have capabilities for winning this wideopenworld cup.
One must not rule out Bangladesh also. On their day Bangladesh can outshine any team.
BDST: 1439 HRS, APRIL 17, 2019
AH
