DHAKA: The three-match T20 series between Bangladesh and host New Zealand is scheduled to begin at Napier from Tuesday (January 3). The other two matches of the series will be played on 6 and 9 January at Mount Maunganui. Bangladesh got comprehensively whitewashed in three matches ODI series which was Bangladesh’s best chance of proving competitive. Bangladesh will play two-match test series after the T20 series. We are unsure that the visitor stands better opportunities in T20 or tests.

Team management has already announced squad for the first match as under.

Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (VC), Mosaddek Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shuvagata Hom, Subashis Roy, Taijul Islam, Nurul Hasan.

From the squad that played ODI series talented off spinner Mehedi Miraz and controversial inclusion Tanbir Hayder have been dropped. Shuvagata Hom and Taijul Islam were included.

We are not sure how much competitive Bangladesh can prove in T20 series. But questions have already been raised whether Bangladesh have gone to New Zealand with best available players.

The T20 squad does not include Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur, Saqlain Sajib and Arafat Sunny who featured in the squad that played in T20 world last year. 

Mushfiqur is nursing his injury but others were not included in the touring party that head coach Hathurusingha masterminded. The squad neither included established all-rounder Nasir Hossain nor top performer in BPL Mehedi Maruf.

Following the lackluster performance of Bangladesh in ODI series there have been continued criticism about team selection and preparations of Bangladesh leading up to the series. Head Coach was blamed mostly for it. He has responded to some of these.

Defending selection of Tanbir the coach said he was included with eyes for the future. He was desperately looking for a leg spinner since assuming responsibility in Bangladesh. He said Tanbir cannot be judged from two matches only. Bangladesh would need a quality leg spinner for playing against Australia, South Africa and England in the future.

Agreeing with his point we like to argue why he could not work on Jubair Hossain? What did he find in Tanbir that gives him assurance that he is a better choice?

A coach will work with a squad given to him by a panel of selectors. The selectors would pick players from their performances in domestic cricket. By the courtesy of BCB Hathurusingha is also a selector. But he does not have time to watch domestic cricket. The question, then, is how a person can become a selector if he does not watch domestic cricket? The bottom line is one does not experiment with rookies in a difficult away series. Bangladesh must have settled sides for all formats. There must not be so many chopping and changing. Bangladesh cricket has not yet reached the status of Australian cricket where there are huge quality players to choose from. 

When the entire country is questioning the absence of quality all-rounder Nasir Hossain Hathurusingha says he has Mosaddek, Shuvagata Hom and Mehedi Miraz in that position. Well, Nasir is a much better all-rounder than any of the three he mentioned. He has more experience and is a regular performer. Mosaddek fits in top order under shadow of any senior player. Miraz, so far, proved as a quality spinner. Shuvagata cannot come anywhere near Nasir as effective all-rounder. If Shuvagata and Miraz were better than Nasir why Hathuru did not play them in any of the three ODI that Bangladesh lost? Why Miraz is not in T20 Sqaud?

Questions are raised and questions would be coming about what Hathurusingha does to promote the quality of Bangladesh cricket?

He is possibly the most privileged head coach of any international team. He is also a selector and enjoys short circuit links with senior policy makers. The normal responsibility of a coach is with squad selected by a panel of selectors. He can request selectors for a player or two for special reason. Most of the players of the current team Tamim, Kayes, Shakib, Mushfique, Mahmudullah, Rubel, Razzak, Nasir, Sabbir and Mashrafe were already established in the team when he took over. Since his took over he has already cast shadows on the career of Abdur Razzak, Al Amin, Nasir Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Jubair Hossain and Anamul Haque. We are unsure whether his experiments would let Soumya and Miraz surviving for a long time. A very highly paid coach spending most of the time at his free sweet will in his adopted home in Australia is a luxury for Bangladesh. We cannot let a very ordinary person play with our cricket fortune. Our home-grown coach Aminul Islam is better respected in International cricket as cricket planner and thinker.

Will he explain what useful purpose the week long unnecessary expensive program in Sydney served to the cause of Bangladesh cricket? Is NSW condition same as New Zealand?  Why a touring party has to be of 23 members? Why a top performer of local cricket Mehedi Maruf was sent back home without playing any match? Why Rubel and Miraz were not given opportunity in ODIs? How much counselling he has done with talented Soumya Sarkar?

Bangladesh must forget about horrors of ODI series. They were ultimately outplayed. But they had their moments, at least in two matches, which they failed to consolidate. I would say senior players like Tamim, Kayes, Mahmudullah, Shakib failed to commit themselves for the cause of the team. Tanbir is a peripheral issue. The loss of Mushfique through injury somewhat upset the balance of the team. It is where Nasir could have brought stability. Young Nurul Hasan is a positive of the series. Talented Mustafiz remains Match Winning option. Mashrafe still commits his best and in second ODI he created opportunity with his excellent bowling. But does he enjoy captain’s prerogative without undue interference? 

Bangladesh may not lose hope altogether. If they can still play to full potential they may upset New Zealand. But that will require more prudence and better team chemistry. Let us hope for the best.

BDST: 1057 HRS, JAN 02, 2017
SR/SMS