Bangladesh selectors will emphasize upon strengthening the batting line up with a view to match the Aussie prowess in the two Test series that starts from August 27 at Dhaka.
Minhajul Abedin Nannu, the chief selector hinted about the team formation. “Definitely, batting will be the key factor countering the Australians in our home series, players who have the edge in batting with their respective duties are our first priority” said the former national batsman.
The selectors and the team management will go through a deep brain storming session to finalize the 14 members’ squad for the first Test on August 19, the day after the arrival of Steven Smith led Australians.
They however, will find tasks a little easier with opener Tamim Iqbal, skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, one down batter Mominul Haque, dependable Mahmudullah Riyad, inform Sabbir Rahman, lower middle order Mosaddek Hossain Saikat are appeared to be the automatic choices considering their form and recent performances.
Main battle will be between Imrul Kayes and Soumya Sarker, as both openers failed to seal the spot partnering Tamim Iqbal as both of them has failed to put up consistent performance in their last couple of international commitments.
There is a slot of the second wicketkeeper and Liton Kumar Das who was in an impressive form in the Dhaka Premier League may get the nod ahead of Nurul Hasan Shohan. Liton has slight edge over Shohan as he can be used as an opener.
Nasir Hossain who can be used as an allrounder finds himself in a tricky condition with his fate depending upon the selector’s choice whether to keep an extra batsman in the squad.
Shakib Al Hasan walks straight into the allrounder category and in the spinners section with young spinning prodigy Mehedi Hasan Miraz almost certain to bag his place.
However Taijul Islam and Sanjamul Islam who did well fight in the domestic league will not give up the fight so easily.
With ‘Cutter Master” Mustafizur Rahman fully fit, he is atop the pacers list. Bangladesh definitely will include another two pacers and Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed are the contenders for those two slots. Shafiul impressed the selectors with his swing and pace in the practice match at Chittagong and Rubel is fully fit after recovering from his eye injury.
Bangladesh team management has left no stone unturned preparing the players for the grim task ahead of facing indomitable Aussies. Both selectors and players seems confident the Tigers will give their in the trying conditions to uphold the red green flag in their own backyard.
