While there was huge outcry following Bangladesh A team’s shambolic performance against Afghanistan A, chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu said there is nothing to be panicked at this moment about the future of country’s cricket.
Many believed that the defeat at the hands of Afghanistan in two-match four-day series and subsequent defeats in the first two matches in one-day series widely exposed the vulnerability of quality cricketers in the pipeline.
But Minhajul differed with the fact, saying, there is still time to turn the things around and it’s not right to judge the players’ pipeline with just few games.
“Actually we had to prepare our National team, BCB XI and A team. We had to divide A team in two parts because one of our team had to go to Bangalore to play four-day matches. We thought that the players who play better in the longer format should be sent to Bangalore. Because that tournament is a very tough and we had a dismal performance last time when we went there four years ago,” Nanuu said on Tuesday.
“Look at the result of the Bangaluru match. Our team played well and today they are in good position and can move into the semifinal of the tournament. We have also seen some good performances from the players. A young fast bowler like Shohidul took five wickets yesterday. It’s a great achievement.
“There was a talk that we don’t do well in the longer version cricket when we go outside. But our team has turned around. You must accept that. We can’t compare because of just one result [Bangladesh A vs Afghanistan A).”
“We have prepared a good team for the Afghanistan also. The team that went to Sri Lanka four players are included from in that team from there and 11 players who played and performed for the national team were included in that squad.
“Unfortunately we lost the first match poorly. In the second match they scored 278 runs but lost the match. On that regard we are bit worried about the performance. Why results aren’t coming despite preparing a very strong team, it is a good headache but we have achieved a lot too. There are some things on which we have to work a lot. At the end of the series and after the tomorrow’s match we will discuss about this.”
Nannu however kept belief on the A team players, saying that they could turn the things around by winning the last three matches in a row to win the five-match series against Afghanistan A.
“We have divided the A team in two parts. You will also see some developing players here. It’s difficult to prepare a strong side in this time as so many tournaments have come at once. With U-19 sides, 65 players are playing now for the last three weeks.
‘Every player of A- team and U-19 team are involved. We had to maintain the balance of every team. The team that is playing is one of the best ODI team. But the result didn’t come as per expectation.”
