For salvaging pride Bangladesh has to have horses for the courses for all important Dhaka test today. There is no further scope for experiment.  

Bangladesh must play with the best available resources, players of proven past records of playing longer version cricket. Of Course, irreversible damage has been done through pruning illogically established quality player Mahmudullah Riad. It is a huge injustice done to the silent killer famed Raid. Injury to Shakib and Shadman is the consequence grossly inadequate preparation for test and lack of habits of playing longer version cricket. We are not going to post mortem Chattogram disaster. Enough must have been enough for that. Hope that wakeup call would serve as Vaccine for BCB in future.

We know when this write up reaches you Dhaka test would be up and running. But I am trying to work out who would be horses for the courses for giving Bangladesh the best trying for reversing the tide. My suggested team for Dhaka taking into consideration the available resources would be Tamim, Liton, Mominul, Mushfique, Mithun, Soumya , Meraj, Taijul, Nayeem, Rahi and Ebadat .

Agreed, Tamim did not do justice to his name and fame at Chottogram. But he remains head and shoulder above the rest as far as giving Bangladesh required start. Injury to Shadman may put team management in dilemma whether to let Saif Hasan open with Tamim. But would prefer inform Liton open with Tamim. The left right-hand combination would be ideal. Let Tamim doing the anchor role and Liton playing strokes as and when opportunity arises. Let us not expose young Saif to huge pressure of expectation. Mominul and Mushfique must bat at their well-earned and well-deserved positions at number three and four. 

In the absence of Shakib they would be the nucleus of Bangladesh batting. The insistence of BCB with Najmul Shanto pressed at number three was a flawed decision. Feel sorry for talented Najmul Shanto. But it is what it is. Mohammad Mithun is a far better player at middle order. BCB must not experiment with Rabbi. Soumya was ideal for number three. But at six he may have similar opportunity with the second new ball or old ball reversing. Meraj despite of his excellent century at Chattogram can bat at 7 few more times before considering his elevation at the top order. If mentored appropriately he can still be worthy successor of Shakib. If there were options with a left arm unorthodox or a tried and tested all-rounder would have played him in place of stereotyped Taijul. He was too predictable. But situation forces to have patience with him. Why he had to change bowling actions few times losing his consistency? Nayeem Hasan looked impressive at times but must not bowl short deliveries too often. He must bring batsmen on front foot most of the time . In my opinion keeping tried and tested Rahi and Ebadat in the team playing white ball specialist Mustafiz was a flawed strategy. His confidence must have shattered being got repeated warning for running into red zone in follow through. BCB planners must not experiment with Raw Hasan Mahmood. Finally, Mushfique must keep wickets for better guiding bowlers and assisting Mominul with judicious option of DRS.

We know team management would be the best judge of the wicket. But it is my bird’s eye view from Melbourne Australia about 3 hours before start of the play. Remember it is do or die situation for Bangladesh and BCB. 

BDST: 1521 HRS, FEB 11, 2021
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