Just a few months ago, Anamul Haque was an integral member of the Bangladesh ODI squad and was chosen as a fixed opener in their successful 2015 ICC World Cup campaign. But a shoulder injury that he sustained during Bangladesh’s Pool A match against Scotland on March 5 not only left him out of the flagship event but also from the entire international arena.
It’s a common scenario in Bangladesh that a regular member of a team gets back his spot after recovering from injury. But it seems the assumption is not working in Anamul’s case. The wicketkeeper-batsman was expected to return in Bangladesh’s home series against Pakistan in April but concerns over his full fitness did not allow him.
Since then, the 22-year-old gained his fitness and played three Bangladesh Cricket League longer-version matches where he had displayed decent enough performances with the bat, scoring three half-centuries and a century.
The ongoing home series against India started with concerns over the wicket-keeping role due to Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim’s right ring finger injury that he incurred in the first Test against Pakistan. In the solitary Test against India, Liton Kumar Das made his debut and donned the gloves. Expectedly, Anamul was out of contention as his poor performance in the longer format had already pushed him away from the reckoning.
Anamul was likely to be included for the three-match ODI series but once again failed to make it. This time too, Liton, who is yet to make his ODI debut, was called up to the squad as a probable wicket-keeper if Musfiq is unable to perform his keeping duties.
“To be honest, I was expecting a call-up because I had put in some decent performances in BCL recently. But then again, selection is not in my hands. There should have been a reason and I believe the selectors have taken the best possible decision,” said Anamul to Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
This correspondent found Anamul quite depressed while talking over phone yesterday over the issue. When queried over the possible reasons for being kept away, Anamul couldn’t reply.
“I don’t know what it is. At the moment there are no domestic matches, at least not for the next four months or so. I am doing individual practice at the moment and hope my luck will turn around soon,” said a dejected Anamul.
It was revealed by different sources that the national selectors and the team management were not pleased with his strike-rate. It was understood that Anamul was aware of the fact as he was informed by a senior member of the side. It is widely suggested in the Bangladesh dressing-room that Anamul bats for himself and not for the team.
National selection panel chief Faruk Ahmed was contacted for a comment on Anamul’s exclusion but he denied, citing the media protocol imposed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board recently. According to sources, the selection panel has faced a host of queries over Anamul and it was learned that an explanation will be given out soon through a media release from the board.
