Former chief selector Faruk Ahmed insisted on the performance of the senior players, stating that they need to take the onus if Bangladesh want to do well in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.
According to Faruk, the condition should give Bangladesh a confidence, given that they stormed into the semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 held in England and Wales, which will host the cricket’s biggest extravaganza this time.
While Bangladesh has already established themselves as a good team in limited over cricket, their performance in the global tournament in the past years is eye-catching. Apart from sealing the last four berths in the Champions Trophy, Bangladesh also moved to the quarterfinal in 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand – a record that Faruk believes should inspire Bangladesh also.
Faruk was the chief selector while Bangladesh announced their team for the 2015 World Cup. He also served the BCB as chief selector during the country’s 2007 World Cup in West Indies.
“The 2015 World Cup was very good for us since we moved into the quarterfinal phase. In the recent past, we played the semifinal of ICC Champions Trophy, so our performance in the global tournament is good,” Faruk said here on Thursday.
“The condition is same now, so players should be upbeat. I think if the senior players play well, there is a good possibility that we can do well in this World Cup.” Faruk also had high praise for the team that the selectors announced for the 2019 World Cup. But at the same time, he criticized selectors for stating that this squad could be changed till May 23, the last ICC deadline for announcing the World Cup team.
According to him, this sort of statement from the selectors could leave the players in some uncertainty. “I think it’s the good team. The selectors include all the available best players. So there is little complain with the team,” he remarked.
“But it seems the team management has some uncertainty over the team, which I don’t think is healthy for the team.” “The message given by the selectors gives one a idea that the team management still thinks about changing the team till the last date.
‘They said that based on the players’ performance in tri-nation series in Ireland, they may bring up some changes. But I think they should not tell this. They rather should give the players confidence that they are the best available players in the country and they would play the World Cup.”
Faruk also praised the inclusion of swing bowler Abu Jayed Rahi in the team. “Rahi is a very good pick. I think there should be some surprising element in World Cup team. Rahi is a conventional swing bowler who can get the English condition particularly to his likings.”
“It would have been good if national selectors would have included a leg-spinner but since we have no quality leg-spinner, Shakib Al Hasan and other off-spinner should take the responsibility. Whatever it is, personally I think it’s the best team and I hope they will thrive in the World Cup,” Faruk concluded.
