Short statured gusty top order batsman from the tourist town Cox’s Bazar will lead a reasonably strong Bangladesh “A” team to India later this month. The team comprises of mostly currently Bangladesh national team players or those recently lost favor. Of the 15 men squad, only uncapped player is left arm spinner Saqlain Sajib. Bangladesh team will play three ODIs against India A team in Bangalore and will also feature in two three day matches against current Ranji Trophy Champion Karnataka in Mysore and Bangalore according to the following schedule.

Bangladesh A tour of India
•    Sept 16 - 1st one-dayer v India A, Bangalore
•    Sept 18 - 2nd one-dayer v India A, Bangalore
•    Sept 20 - 3rd one-dayer v India A, Bangalore
•    Sept 22-24 - Three-day match v Karnataka, Mysore
•    Sept 27-29 - Three day match v India A, Bangalore

Bangladesh A squad: Anamul Haque, Rony Talukdar, Liton Das, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque (capt), Nasir Hossain, Saqlain Sajib, Arafat Sunny, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shuvagata Hom, Jubair Hossain.

Though Mominul as captain is a surprise selection but undoubtedly this will give a huge moral boost to a richly deserving talented batsman who has already played so many solid test innings against almost all opposition enter the elite club of test batsmen. He was not treated well in limited over versions and as such did not much opportunity to prove his potential in shorter version yet. This tour will give his opportunity to prove his class in that version as well.

The team has seven batsmen four of whom Anamul Huq, Rony Talukdar, Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar are genuine openers. We are not sure with Tamim and Kayes available whether any of the four stand any possibility of making the test team against Australia. But with good performance who knows. Mominul, Nasir and Shabbir are the other batsmen in the squad. All the eight batsmen have represented Bangladesh in test or one-day version. So, it will be a matter of performing and brightening their chances of either reentering the national team or cementing their position. We have a feeling that the team is bit short in middle order batting. Four openers one number three and three genuine late middle order batsman in the team. All of them are reasonably new to international cricket.

The squad has a very strong bowling unit. Rubel Taskin, Ala Amin and Shafiul make a strong pace bowling attack any two will make the Bangladesh team for sure against Australia depending on form and fitness. Subhagato Hom, Jubair Hossain Arafat Sunny and Saqlain Sajib are good enough spinners for exploiting Indian conditions.

It gives us lot of pleasure to note that Bangladesh is in a position now to send a strong enough cricket team to India without their star players like Shakib, Tamim, Mahamuduallh, Mushfique and Mashrafe. Wonder how circumstances alter cases. Only over a year from now India sent a third rated team to Bangladesh. Even this year their senior players were reluctant to visit Bangladesh. Emergence of few outstanding new players and strong performance by Mashrafe squad made India suffer humiliating defeats in one day series. The scenario has completely reverse. Even against Bangladesh A Indian teams may not dare playing weaker teams.

On the other side several Bangladeshis including Anamul, Al Amin, Rony Talukdar, Shubhato and Shafiul can make strong statements for returning to the team. It will be very interesting to see how Liton Sarkar and Soumya perform in both the formats of the game. Taskin declared match fit will be playing longer version after a while. Al Amin considered unfortunate by many when he was sent home on disciplinary ground from world cup without appearing in a single match has to prove a point. It will be also interesting to see how Jubair and Saqlain Sajib combine on spin friendly Indian wickets. The team has depth and diversity in bowling and can adjust to any surface. Bangladesh preferred not exposing their tramp card Mustafiz to India and rightly so. He is considered a precious possession now.

Mominul has some experience of leading team and his deputy Nasir Hossain has many. This team though a bit short in batting experience is expected to perform well and compete with Indian A team and Ranji trophy champions. Hope team management will be careful about rotating the bowlers intelligently so as to not stressing any bowler too much. Taskin, Rubel and Shafiul all returned from some niggles. Looking forward to good performance of Tiger A squad on India tour.

BDST: 0952 HRS, SEP 09, 2015
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