Led by ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (C), Bangladesh’s national players pose for the camera with their new national jerseys, sponsored by Robi Axiata Ltd, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan Papon and chief selector Faruque Ahmed both hinted that Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim might not keep during the one-off Test against India due to begin from June 10 in Fatullah.
Mushfiqur, who hurt his right ring finger on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan, is yet to completely recover from the injury though he has been practising batting.
“I have spoken to Mushfiqur. From what I know, he wants to keep wickets. But because the India series is taking place after a short gap he hasn’t been able to recover completely as yet. There are still a few doubts. He may not stand behind the stumps,” Papon told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Faruque echoed Papon’s sentiments and termed Mushfiqur’s injury as a concern.
“His finger still hurts and that’s why we are a little worried. We have been discussing this issue. But there’s still a long time to go. We still have nine more days in hand. We will have to wait and observe this matter before making a final decision,” said Faruque.
If Mushfiqur does not keep, it is likely that debutant Litton Kumar Das, who was in the Test squad for the Pakistan series and is currently in the preliminary squad for the India series, will play the Test.
On the contrary, the good news is that pacer Rubel Hossain has recovered from the side-strain he suffered during the Pakistan series and is available for selection. He will be expected to share the new ball with Mohammad Shahid. The question however remains with regards to the third seamer in the 14-member squad.
The management will have to choose from Abul Hasan, Shafiul Islam or the young left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who made an impressive debut against Pakistan in the lone T20I. Shafiul is fit, but his decision to not take part in the final round of the Bangladesh Cricket League reportedly annoyed the selectors quite a bit. Abul on the other hand has just started getting wickets in domestic cricket and didn’t do too well in the Pakistan series.
The main debate between the selectors and coach Chandika Hathurusingha however, according to sources, is regarding leg-spinner Jubair Hossain. Selectors are against picking Jubair, who didn’t get any game-time in the last series, while the coach reportedly wants the leg-spinner in the team.
Source: The Daily Star
