With September 28 being the cut-off date to submit the final squad for the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup in India, the national selectors are expected to announce the Bangladesh squad for the mega event soon.
Bangladesh are scheduled to travel to Guwahati and kick off their World Cup campaign on September 27, a day after playing the third and final ODI against New Zealand in Mirpur tomorrow.
According to sources, the selectors have already chalked out the squad and are only awaiting the final approval from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon.
It was also learned that the BCB boss is willing to have a discussion with the Tigers’ head coach Chandika Hathurusingha before finalising the Tigers’ squad for the mega event.
Deciding on a possible last-minute inclusion of Mahmudullah Riyad in the World Cup squad is apparently the biggest reason behind the delay of the Tigers’ squad announcement.
Riyad, making a comeback to the side after nearly six months, made a statement with a 49-run knock after the Tigers suffered a batting collapse in their second ODI against New Zealand on Saturday. Chasing a 255-run target, Bangladesh suffered an 86-run thumping as they were bundled out for 168.
It will be interesting to see whether Riyad eventually makes it to the squad.
Meanwhile, there are some changes in Bangladesh’s squad for the third and series-deciding encounter against the Kiwis tomorrow. Stand-in captain Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal have been rested for the game.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, making a return to the side since recovering from a hamstring injury, will lead the Tigers in the game. Experienced Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, and pacer Shoriful Islam have also been included in the squad.
Bangladesh have not lost a bilateral series against New Zealand since October, 2008 and the Tigers will be desperate to keep the record intact.
