With Bangladesh already out of the Asia Cup despite having one game left to play against India on Friday, the emphasis would shift to making the most of their remaining assignments, mainly the New Zealand series at home, ahead of the upcoming World Cup in October.
The Tigers have recently found it difficult to attain balance owing to injuries but what areas would the team management look at to find those that fit their World Cup plan? The need for an all-rounder may still be prioritised going forward.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan had expressed that he believes quite a few players, who are already ensured of a place in the World Cup squad, may be rested. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cricket operations chairman, Jalal Yunus, told the media present at Sri Lanka on Tuesday that the head coach had already made plans on who to be rested.
The aspect of resting the fast bowlers also came up during Jalal’s interactions with the media. Since Ebadot Hossain’s injury forced him out of the World Cup squad, the remaining four front-line pacers may be rested as Tigers look for precautionary measures ahead of the marquee event.
“We have not made a decision regarding who will be rested, but we do have backup options if the pacers are rested,” a member of the selection panel informed yesterday.
The bigger focus would be the performance of the batters following batting collapses in Asia Cup. While the openers lacked runs — barring Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who played as a makeshift opener — the middle-order already bolsters the best available options in Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim. It is the lower middle-order which has been the other big area in the batting department that needs improvement. However, balancing a team is where all-rounders also come into the equation.
While resting too many players could affect the balance of the side in the upcoming New Zealand series at home, two seasoned campaigners — Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad — may return to the side. Mahmudullah last played for the Tigers against England at home and although he does not fit the profile of a genuine all-rounder, his bowling has often balanced the team combination. Sources have claimed that Mahmudullah is slated for a return, and thus the team management can gauge available options.
Number seven and eight in the batting order have been key areas of concern in the Asia Cup. With Miraz playing as an opener, Shamim Hossain and Afif Hossain have failed to make their mark with the bat in the tournament while they do not provide a solid bowling option.
Meanwhile, the likes of Mosaddek Hossain, Mahedi Hasan and Soumya Sarkar could also present options with the ball. In absence of a genuine pace bowling all-rounder, with Mohammad Saifuddin rehabilitating from an injury, it remains to be seen if Soumya’s medium-pace bowling could see him get a nod ahead of the showpiece event in India.
The opening slot may need a backup opening option, in case Tamim Iqbal’s injury remains a concerning issue going into the World Cup. Shakib had spoken about finding one or two players in the coming series who could fit the team.
Thus, apart from veterans like Tamim or Mahmudullah finding their feet before the World Cup, and given no further injury setbacks, only one or two other positions will be on the team management’s agenda ahead of Bangladesh’s seventh World Cup mission.
