Bangladesh in the upcoming Asia Cup Twenty20 2022 will look for opening options in experienced campaigners Shakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, informed team director Khaled Mahmud to the media Monday.
Bangladesh Cricket Board last Saturday declared a 17-member squad for the six-team tournament set to begin in the United Arab Emirates on August 27.
Bangladesh named only two regular opening batters in Anamul Haque and Parvez Hossain in the absence of regular opener Liton Das, who is sidelined from the tournament due to injury.
Shakib in his long international career has opened only once for Bangladesh – in the T20 World Cup 2021 against the West Indies.
The left-handed batter however, could score only nine runs in the game.
“Our regular openers are Anamul and Parvez but there are many in the squad who have played as openers in domestic cricket. It can be Mushfiq or Shakib. We also have options in [Mehedi Hasan] Miraz and Mahedi [Hasan]. We have a lot of options. We are now thinking who to use against Afghanistan bowling attack,” said Mahmud.
Bangladesh will begin their Asia Cup campaign against the Afghans on August 30 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
In their second Group B match, Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka on September 1 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Top two teams from each group will proceed to the second phase of the tournament - Super Four round.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiq on the other hand opened for Bangladesh twice – in 2009 against Zimbabwe in ODI and in 2019 in T20I against Afghanistan.
It is understood that the national think-tank is determined to start with regular openers in Anamul and Parvez and try other options if need be.
In the last Asia Cup in 2018, Bangladesh struggled with the openers sans Tamim Iqbal due to hand injury sustained during their first game of the tournament, against Sri Lanka.
The team management and the then 50-over captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza used Liton and Miraz in the final, against India.
The opening duo put on a 100-run stand but Bangladesh eventually lost by three wickets; the partnership from Liton and Miraz though got praised.
