Bangladesh 'A' team is all set to depart for England on August 3 for the three-week long tour where they will play five one-day games against five different County sides and three one-day matches against England Lions.
The national players have not been involved in any sort of competitive cricket since their tour of Zimbabwe in April which prompted the selection panel to name most of the senior players in the second-string side ahead of Bangladesh's home series against New Zealand in October.
The squad features some prominent names like Elias Sunny, Ziaur Rahman, Jahurul Islam, Naeem Islam, Enamul Haque, Sohag Gazi, Rubel Hossain and Mominul Haque.
"I think is a good opportunity for players to establish themselves as a regular national team player can perform in the tour and get the attention of the selectors before the New Zealand series," said 'A' team skipper Jahurul to Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
"Spots in the top-order are not secured for anyone except for Tamim (Iqbal). So a good performance by the batsmen can get them a spot there and a bowlers can avail the same opportunity," the wicketkeeper-batsman added.
It is also a great opportunity for Naeem, named vice-captain, who lost his place in the national side in December. "It is good that those national cricketers who are yet to be prominent are being sent for the tour. The platform is right and good performances will always get us closer to get selected for the New Zealand series," said Naeem.
