The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the men’s and women’s squads for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 on Sunday.
The two-match Twenty20 series the two domestic Twenty20 competition held in December last year was the arena for experiments for the national selection panel. And after much calculation, the selectors have come up with a team with a blend of experience and youth, believes chief of the selection panel Faruk Ahmed.
“We have considered the fact that this was a world event and experience was necessary as well as giving opportunity to youngsters like Mominul (Hoque) and Shabbir (Rahman) who have the potential to excel in the shortest format,” said chief selector Faruk in a media release yesterday.
The men’s squad is identical to what it was seen in the Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, except for AbdurRazzak coming in place of another left-arm spinner, Arafat Sunny.
Sunny in the two games against Sri Lanka, which Bangladesh lost off the last ball, took three wickets. He could have replaced SohagGazi, who is not in his best form, but that would have made three left-arm spinners in the side, along with Shakib al Hasan and Razzak.
“Someone like Sunny, who has impressed everyone and had been performing consistently at domestic level, had to miss out because we needed to have that balance,” Faruk explained.
“We have a lot of depth in our bowling. There are three pace bowlers and a seaming all-rounder. However, in our conditions spin will be the main strength and we are well covered in that area with Shakib, Abdur and Gazi,” he added.
Faruk is also confident that the women’s team would give a good account of themselves in home conditions.
“We have tried to pick the best squad available. The preparation has been good and the team will get more opportunities to play against strong sides in the lead up to the main event,” he said.
MEN’S SQUAD
Mushfiqur Rahim (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, AnamulHaque, Shamsur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, MuminulHoque, Nasir Hossain, ShabbirRahaman, Mahmudullah, AbdurRazzak, ShohagGazi, Masrafe Bin Mortaza, Farhad Reza, Rubel Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain
WOMEN’S SQUAD
Salma Khatun (Captain), JahanaraAlam (VC), Rumana Ahmed, FarganaHoque, Ayasha Rahman, LataMondol, Sanjida Islam, FahimaKhatun, Panna Ghosh, SharminAkter, NuzhatTasnia, Khadijatul Kubra, ShohalyAkther, Shamima Sultana, SailaSharmin