After disastrous two months of 2018 losing like novice in all formats at home in T20s, ODIs and Test BCB embarked on a selection drama for the ensuing NIDAHAS trophy Tri Nation Tournament 2018 in Sri Lanka scheduled to start from 6 March 2018.
Apart from host two other contestants are India and Bangladesh. The tournament would commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Independence of Sri Lanka.
BCB has announced a 16-member squad naming not yet fully fit Shakib Al Hasan as the captain.
The Squad:
Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Ariful Haque, Mehedi Miraj, Nurul Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed, Abu Hider, Nazmul Islam
BCB during the immediate past Rocket Tri Nation Series, bilateral test and T2o series over experimented with several players, many rookies leaving some tried and tested players resting or ignoring. Zakir Hasan, Afif Hossain. Mohammad Mithun, Mehedi Hasan and Saifuddin are omitted. Some of them were rushed to the team from Under 19 and now scrapped after one or two matches.
It appears from the selection dilemma that selectors are totally confused. Injury to one or two of the fabulous five (Mashrafe No longer available for T20) makes the team topsy-turvy as not many international quality players are in the pipeline. BCB planning is so poor that there is no long term planning in place for graduating players from age group to national teams. A Team and High Performance Squad hardly have any exposure of grooming for big league. Bangladesh Cricket has entered a corridor of uncertainty.
Mashrafe expressed his intention for returning to test cricket. But BCB thought otherwise. He was reportedly persuaded to return to T20. Mashrafe is a type of person who can not accept maltreatment. He would have responded to nations call if properly approached. It is reported that BCB President would accompany the team. Let is see what his presence in Colombo changes? Colombo has many Casinos, Some of these are owned by Sri Lanka board chief.
Wonder why not even fully fit Shakib is risked for even one or two matches. Bangladesh is definitely not the favorite for winning the tournament. Risking Shakib in such situation may prove counter productive. Afif Hossain did exceptionally well in ICC under 19 Championship. He was rushed to national team and ignored after one match. Strong middle order batsman Zakir Hasan was blooded and thrown into opening slot straight away. He is also scrapped after one match. These players are the future of Bangladesh and must not be treated so shabbily like sacrificial goats.
Cricket admirers are questioning the recall of Taskin and Imrul Kayes as both are going through a lean patch. Taskin was struggling to find his length and line. Imrul is not a T20 specialist. His batting suits more to Test and ODI. Mohammad Saifuddin is more adept than Taskin in T20 as poor mans all rounder. Talented Mominul could be the most ideal number three batsman in all formats. The selection of out of form Sabbir is also questioned. Few other players like Mohammad Mithun or Zakir Hasan could be better bets.
Bangladesh record in T20 against India and Sri Lanka is heavily against their favor. India is sending weakened side resting Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Jusprit Bumrah, Bhubaneswar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadab and Hardik Pandya. Still India is reasonably strong for lifting the trophy for availability of several high quality players in the reserve. Indian domestic cricket is much better managed than Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka is undergoing rehabilitation phase following retirement of several world class players (Kumara Sangakkra, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and unavailability of Lasith Malinga. But there unfinished pipeline of quality players coming out of organized domestic cricket has signaled their turning around. Their recent performance in Bangladesh indicated that Lankan lions are back in business again.
It can be seen from above that Bangladesh has to rewrite the history if they have to win even a single match not to speak of winning the tournament.
Bangladesh has named Courtney Walsh as head coach. He was engaged with his bowlers and trying to mentor them. He has no past track records of performing as head coach. Why BCB could not find a coach? Why controversial Khaled Mahmud Sujon needs to remain in Team Management?
In any case team management especially the selectors have shown great impatience and immaturity in the recent past. When team performs the weaknesses remain hidden.
I would strongly recommend suspending selection committee and overall team management after this tournament whatever may be the outcome of the tournament.
Tournament Schedule:
March 6 – India vs Sri Lanka at RPS, Colombo at 7 PM IST
March 8 – India vs Bangladesh at RPS, Colombo at 7 PM IST
March 10 – Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh at RPS, Colombo at 7 PM IST
March 12 – India vs Sri Lanka at RPS, Colombo at 7 PM IST
March 14 – India vs Bangladesh at RPS, Colombo at 7 PM IST
March 16 – Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh at RPS, Colombo at 7 PM IST
March 18 – Final at RPS, Colombo at 7 PM IST
We hope BCB and its selection committee would have some accountability to someone somewhere. It is ok losing one or few matches. But no one would expect Bangladesh entering a phase of continued diabolic performance and more so for novice team management.
BDST: 1715 HRS, FEB 27, 2018
SI
