Compared to the 2011 ICC World Cup, the 15-man Bangladesh squad for the 2015 competition has one thing in common. The previous edition featured nine first-timers in the global showpiece event and it is the same this time around too.
Amongst the 15 members, four cricketers will play their third World Cup – skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza, vice-captain Shakib al Hasan, wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim and opener Tamim Iqbal – while it will be the second appearance in the 50-over world event for paceman Rubel Hossain and all-rounder Mahmudullah.
As far as the newcomers are concerned, seamer-allrounder Soumya Sarker’s inclusion has attracted the most headlines and the lad from Satkhira is expected to play a crucial role Down Under, if given the opportunity. The 21-year old cricketer will have to perform dual roles – backup opener and third seamer of the side.
Soumya caught the attention of the selectors after an impressive campaign in the just-concluded Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2014-15 season. The elegant left-hander accumulated 615 runs – fourth-highest in the league - at an average of 41, including four fifties and a century while with the leather he has scalped eight wickets.
And following his surprise callup, Soumya expressed his delight to the assembled media in Mirpur last Sunday.
“I was always confident that if I play well this season, there will be an outcome,” said Sarkar.
“The selectors must have thought about me before they picked me. I was thinking of today’s (Sunday’s) match (in the DPL) since it is an important one. It does feel great that we (Prime Bank) became champions and I got a chance to play in the World Cup for the very first time. It is a big deal for me,” added Soumya, who played his only ODI at home against Zimbabwe last month.
Alongside Soumya, Nasir’s selection also created some noise. The 23-year old’s bad run of form heading upto the Zimbabwe series led to him being dropped after three consistent years with the Tigers.
Nasir smashed 550 runs in the DPL at an average of approximately 50 runs per match. As a result, the cricketer from Rangpur, once dubbed “Mr Finisher” due to his match-winning exploits, is bracing himself for his first 50-over World Cup.
“I tried to stay normal during the time I was out of the team but it was not easy,” said Nasir last Sunday in Mirpur.
“I spoke to the coaches and former cricketers, spent time in the nets and I think it all benefitted me. I tried to enjoy my batting, which brought me back to form. I scored in a number of matches. I believed that if I score runs, I can return to the team,” he added.
Other newcomers include young pacemen Taskin Ahmed and Al Amin Hossain, who will both provide valuable support to spearhead Mashrafe and Rubel, while left-arm spinners Arafat Sunny and Taijul Islam have been picked as specialist spinners. Batsmen Sabbir Rahman, Anamul Haque and Mominul Haque complete the 15-man lineup while paceman Shafiul Islam has been selected as standby in case of injuries. 19-year old leg-spinner Jubair Hossain is being touted by the national selection panel as the second standby.
