In the absence of regular captain Mushfiqur Rahim whose marriage ceremony is scheduled for October 8, Mashrafe bin Mortaza will lead a star-studded Twenty20 squad in the forthcoming 17th Asian Games to be held in Incheon, South Korea. Defending champions Bangladesh will send the strongest possible squad for the Asian meet slated to get underway from September 19.
The Tigers clinched their first ever Asian Games gold medal in the men’s T20 cricket competition at Guangzhou four years ago. Led by Mohammad Ashraful, Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by five wickets in the final.
Chief selector Faruk Ahmed informed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is willing to send the best possible side and there is absolutely no chance of resting any player as it will be a big challenge for them to defend their title.
“As we are the defending champions, this will be a big challenge for us and taking that into consideration we will be sending the best possible team,” said Faruk.
National skipper Mushfiq has already asked for leave from the board as the 25-year old is engaged to cricketer Mahmudullah’s sister-in-law, Jannatul Kifayet Mondi. It was learned that veteran paceman Mashrafe will be leading the Bangladesh side in all likelihood.
The deadline for drafting the 30-man Asian Games squad expired on April 31. Faruk informed that they have already selected the members of the squad and submitted it to the board. And according to sources BCB president Nazmul Hasan will sign the final squad by today.
“We will announce the team very soon as you know there is a deadline of announcing the squad and most probably the board will announce the squad by this week. We have already submitted the squad to the board,” said the chief selector.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are already practising for the upcoming tour of the West Indies with the first of two practice matches to be held today between the national cricketers. There will be a longer-version match which will be a sixty-overs-per-side affair. The second match is a one-day match which will be a day-night game.