Bangladesh Cricket Board has just announced the 14-member squad for the lone test against India scheduled to start from 10 June at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah. Is it the right squad? I am sure there are many reasons to dispute.
The squad
Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes , Litton Kumar Das, Mominul Haque, Mahamudullah Riad, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam , Rubel Hossain , Jubair Hossain , Mohammad Shahid , Shuvagata Hom and Abul Hasan.
The squad is essentially unchanged from what that was selected for the second Test against Pakistan excepting that fit-again Rubel has returned replacing Shahadat Hossain. There can not be much dispute about the first twelve as they are possibly the best in their own positions provided they are 100% match fit. But any person who has some knowledge of Bangladesh cricket at this moment has reasons to believe that simple cricket sense did not work while preferring Shuvagata and Abul Hasan over Shabbir and Nasir against very strong Indian test team. I will even go to the extent that even Soumya Sarkar could be preserved for ODIs and Shabbir could be of better utility than him in the Test team as Litton Kumar Das will possibly make his debut as wicket-keeper and top order batsman relieving not 100% fit Mushfiqur .
India has the strongest batting unit, and on Bangladesh wicket, will make not-too-strong Bangladesh Test attack toil and sweat. The seven top players in the given circumstance will be automatic choice. If we add Rubel, Shahid and Taijul with them only one spot will be left to occupy. What will be the point in including Soumya, Shuvagata and Abul Hasan in the squad? We are not sure about Rubel’s 100% fitness. With selectors ignoring Al Amin already, they are risking recurrence of injury to Rubel, who in any case cannot bowl long spells. For variety in the attack Jubair must be preferred over Shuvagata or Abul Hasan in any case. If anyone asks the selectors, they will come up with excuse that Nasir and Shabbir are preserved for ODIs. But in our opinion both are better quality players even for longer format than even Soumya Sarkar, Shuvagata and Abul Hasan. Both are better let-order batsmen, brilliant fielders. There must be something wrong in our selection process. With greater stake for Bangladesh in ODI series, can Bangladesh afford to let Shakib bowl longer spells and burn out? Can Bangladesh afford another injury to Rubel? We understand, not risking Taskin and Mushfiqur for Test but why not Shafiul preferred over Abul Hasan? Bangladesh does not need his batting at number 9. His bowling will be bread and butter for high quality Indian batsmen.
We are sure Bangladesh will bat well against this Indian attack on Fatullah wicket if our batsmen can handle Harbhajan and Ashwin with care. We understand the logic of not picking Anamul as they thought Litton can be a better wicket-keeping option and can also be a better top order option. Soumya Sarkar will be a waste here as he will be of greater utility in ODIs. He must not be burdened with additional responsibility in Test. He cannot find any spot in his right batting order in Test . Bangladesh definitely should have selected Shabbir and Nasir in the Test squad. We hope Jubair will be picked ahead of Shuvagata or Abul Hasan.
As the squad is already announced my team for the test from the sqaud would be
Tamim, Kayes, Mominul, Litton, Mushfiqur, Shakib, Mahamudullah, Taijul, Rubel, Jubair and Shahid.
Bangladesh must appear with 5 genuine bowlers including Shakib. Bangladesh – winning the toss – must bat under any circumstances against very strong Indian batting. Strong competitive performance in the Test will be a morale booster for the ODI series which is too crucial now for Bangladesh to consolidate its raking in ICC ODI list.
