As Bangladesh claimed to have found a settle group for T20 format, reliance on the senior players still looks obvious. Anyone from the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad misfire in any match, Bangladesh find them in a position of vulnerability.

There was huge expectation on Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das and Sabbir Rahman to take the onus and establish them as the right successor of the seniors. But they so far failed to justify the mettle they got.

Mosaddek Hossain Saikat is another who could be as useful as the senior four players, considering his talent and capability to thrive in any tough condition. Mosaddek got few opportunities but his eye problem coupled with his lack of confidence in the post eye sickness made him suddenly irregular in the team.

However alongside Soumya, Liton and Sabbir, Mosaddek are also considered as the successor of the senior four players. These four young players showed some occasional flashes of brilliance but couldn’t be as consistent as the senior players. But the good thing is that the time is yet to be run out. They have the time and age on the side still to succeed the seniors. Considering those factors, the selectors and team management decided to show patience on them.

Soumya and Liton were disappointing in Nidahas Trophy, scoring just 50 and 95 runs respectively in five matches. Sabbir Rahman scored 147 runs and was the only other apart from Mushfiqur Rahim (199) and Tamim Iqbal (154) to score 100 plus runs in the tournament but that came on the back of his 50 ball-77 runs knock in the final. Before final, he was just mediocre. It’s not that they only showed their failure in just one tournament. In fact for the last two years, no one of the three was as consistent as it was expected to be. Mosaddek however didn’t got chances regularly like those three.

“These players have the capability to make difference and I still have no doubt that they could be the successor of the senior players. That’s why we stand by them still. It’s up to them to justify our faith on them. I am sure they will overcome the odds,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu.

There was still question on the form of Soumya Sarkar but the selectors decided to stick to him.

“The captain and coach want him in the team. And we also know he could deliver. Just what he needs is to get back his confidence.”

The players now get another chance to correct their stat when they will take on Afghanistan for a three-match T20 series in next month, specially to prove it preciously right that Bangladesh now have a settle group in T20 cricket.

“The settled group means we have found the right man for right position. But if the players couldn’t be consistent, this won’t work. At the same time, I won’t say that the time is running out. It’s the opportunity for them to correct their stat as we will be playing a lot of T20 matches in the coming days,” Abedin remarked.