Selectors want Shakib to bat at No 3
Minhaj looks for players fitting in proper format
Sports Reporter
Despite being off-form for the last eight months, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selection panel included left-handed top-order batsman Soumya Sarkar for the demand of the team management for the next T20 series against the hosts West Indies.
BCB selection panel chairman Minhajul Abedin Nannu told media at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday while its panel member Habibul Bashar Sumon was also present.
Weve meanwhile sent Ariful Haque and Soumya Sarkar for the T20 series. Ariful Haque was the first choice of the selectors. But were in dubious over Soumya for his recent form, said Minhajul Abedin Nannu.
The team management, in this case, chose him for the T20 series. Always we have to keep a place for the team management in case of team selection. Actually Soumya has been taken for the demand of the team, Nannu said.
We had a different planning for Soumya. There are so many games of A team ahead. He played in the last Sri Lanka series. Were hopeful that he will come to his form, he added.
Selectors tried Soumya against Sri Lanka A team so that he could get his form back but he did not play any big innings. Then, they sent him at the request of the team management.
According to them, Soumya has a good track record on overseas bouncy condition, where he could bat well at squad and off the wicket. There will be bouncy wicket in West Indies and Floridas wicket will also have a bit movement. They believe that he will be proper selection on such wickets.
Bangladesh had apprehensions in their opening and one-down positions that always a cause of thinking for the head coach, selectors along with the team management to furnish a right combination of the team prior to a series or tournament.
Last few years, it has been seen trying with Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Kumar Das, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Sabbir Rahman Rumman even Mominul Haque as a partner of well-set Tamim Iqbal. But they are still searching for it not to get any adequate partner.
Along with that, they have attempted to fill the No.3 position with the players likes of Sabbir Rahman Rumman, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Soumya Sarkar. But they however didnt get any proper way out of it.
In the latest attempt, Bangladesh management brought up Shakib Al Hasan in the one-drop position since Nidahas Cup Trophy and succeeded in the tournament. Since then, he is in that position and selectors have a belief in him.
The all-rounder batted against Afghanistan in the last series in No. 3 position. The selectors decorated their team combination for the next T20 series against West Indies, the squad that will be announced within the next one-two days. BCB selection panel chairman Minhajul Abedin Nannu flatly told media that Shakib will bat at No.3 position in their next T20 series against the Windies.
We have No. 1 all-rounder (Shakib Al Hasan) in the team. He is the most experienced and confident player to bat at any place of the team, said Minhajul Abedin Nannu.
He is enough confident to bat at No. 3 position. For this, he batted at that position in the first one-day match, where we saw him playing with responsibility. If he deems himself confident, I think, he should continue in that vein, Nannu said.
The former captain said that they have planning surrounding some players including Mominul Haque.
He is playing one day cricket. Its not that he plays only Test. In that sense, weve thought to take some experienced place in this A team. There is an opportunity to give some experienced players. Its a platform what is open for every one. Weve formed our A team to think the need of the national team, he said of Mominul.
Weve planning for Mominul Haque in one-day cricket. As he plays only in a format and his age is not more in that sense, he could give a long-term service for the country. If he could return to this format, itd then be a plus-point for us.
When asked about Taskin Ahmed, Nannu said, The fitness report we have on Taskin according to it there will be no problem for him to play in the next Ireland series. He is fully fit now. I believe Taskin has enough experience if he returns to the fold our first bowling pool will be bolstered.
As weve so many games ahead, we needed fast bowlers for it. If the players of the pool are fit, the competition among the players will be held from where we could be better things, he viewed.
