Featuring nine current frontline national cricketers, the Bangladesh Cricket Board yesterday announced a 15-member Bangladesh A team for the tour of India later this month.
Selection panel chief Faruk Ahmed had earlier hinted of including several members of the national dressing room in the A side and he stayed true to his words. The former captain wanted to afford the national cricketers some match-practice ahead of the two-Test series against Australia at home next month.
At the same time, the selection panel also wanted to create opportunities for those who have been out of favour with the national side.
Led by diminutive batsman Mominul Haque with all-rounder Nasir Hossain as his deputy, the second string Bangladesh team feature top-order batsman Soumya Sarkar, wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Kumar Das, all-rounder Sabbir Rahman, spinners Arafat Sunny and Jubair Hossain and pacemen Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed.
The tour will indeed be a great platform for the national discards, who either lost their places due to performance and injury, to stake a comeback claim for themselves. Top-order batter Anamul Haque, who has been out of contention ever since dislocating his shoulder against Scotland during the 2015 ICC World Cup, will be one of those who will be eager to capitalise from the tour. Pacers Al Amin Hossain and Shafiul Islam will also be keen to put in some impressive displays in order to script a comeback to the national side.
Bangladesh ODI and Twenty20 skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza was also being considered for the tour. According to sources, national head coach Chandika Hathurusingha apparently wanted Mashrafe to take part in the three-match one-day series against their Indian counterparts.
Chief selector Faruk then discussed with Mashrafe but decided not to name him in the Bangladesh A squad as the right-arm paceman was lacking match fitness.
Bangladesh A are scheduled to leave here this Sunday. During their 16-day tour, the second-string Bangladesh side will play three one-dayers against India A. The tourists will also play two three-dayers against India A and Ranji Trophy champions Karnataka.
Squad
Mominul Haque (c), Nasir Hossain (vc), Anamul Haque, Rony Talukdar, Liton Kumar Das, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Saqlain Sajib, Arafat Sunny, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Al Amin Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shuvagata Hom, Jubair Hossain
