Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday announced a 15-member final squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 that will take place in Australia and New Zealand in February and March.
BCB president Nazmul Hassan MP announced the squad at a press conference at the BCB office at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur in the afternoon.
Chief Selector Faruque Ahmed, BCB Director cum media committee chairman Jalal Younus and BCB Director cum chairman of the cricket operation committee Akram Khan were also present at the conference.
The selectors have picked a squad with a blend of youth, experience and balance with five specialist batsmen and six specialist bowlers backed by three allrounders and a wicketkeeper.
Placed in Pool A with former world champions Australia, Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand, Scotland and Afghanistan, Bangladesh will start their World Cup campaign taking on Afghanistan on February 18 at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
In the remaining group matches, the Tigers will face Australia on February 21 at the Gabba, Brisbane; Sri Lanka on February 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne; Scotland on March 5 at Saxton Oval, Nelson; England on March 9 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide; New Zealand on March 13 at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
Mashrafe Mortaza will lead the Bangladesh team to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 while Shakib Al Hasan retained as his deputy.
Soumya Sarkar’s ability to bat and bowl earned a place for him in the squad while Nasir Hossain as a good finisher in crucial moment and Taskin Ahmed has been recalled after missing the ODI series against Zimbabwe as a pace bowler.
Sarkar was included in the squad as one of the leading run-getters in the just concluded Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, where he has scored four fifties and a century in 16 matches.
Taijul Islam and Arafat Sunny were considered as specialised spinners alongside all rounder Shakib Al Hasan.
Of the 15-man squad, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam and Sabbir Rahman made their ODI debuts in the home series against Zimbabwe in November-December last.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain and Rubel Hossain were included in the squad as pace bowlers in addition to Soumya Sarkar.
Bangladesh chief selector Faruque Ahmed said he selection committee formed a balanced team keeping it in mind the recent performances of the players and pitch condition of the World Cup venues. “You can debate on the selection process, but we selected players who are in form right now and considering the pitch condition.”
“If players perform according to their potential, we can achieve our desired win,” he said.
Replying to a question, Faruque said it is difficult to say right now who will be in the best eleven. He also hoped to notch win at least against Scotland and Afghanistan apart from playing good cricket through the tournament.
Among the selected squad, six players — Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah and Rubel Hossain — have the experiences of playing in the World Cup Cricket.
Meanwhile, pacer Shafiul Islam was named as the 16th player while the name of 17th spot will be announced soon. They will replace players in the main squad in case of any emergency.
Abdur Razzak, Ziaur Rahman and Imrul Kayes failed to find any place for them in the final squad.
Bangladesh World Cup squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Arafat Sunny and Taijul Islam.
