In light of the fact that the deadline for submitting the final roster for the forthcoming ICC One-Day International World Cup in India is September 28, the national selectors of Bangladesh are anticipated to make an announcement about the team that will compete in the major tournament very soon.
The first match of Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign is slated to take place on September 27 in Guwahati, India. This will take place the day after the third and final one-day international match against New Zealand, which will take place tomorrow in Mirpur.
The selectors are said to have already drafted the team, and they are now just waiting for the final permission from the head of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Nazmul Hassan Papon, according to the sources.
In addition to this, it was revealed that the BCB chief is open to having a conversation with Chandika Hathurusingha, the head coach of the Tigers, prior to finalizing the roster that would represent Sri Lanka at the big event.
It would seem that the most significant factor contributing to the postponement of the Tigers’ World Cup squad announcement was the ongoing deliberation on whether or not to include Mahmudullah Riyad in the team at the eleventh hour.
Riyad, who was making his first appearance for the team in over six months, made a statement with a 49-run knock on Saturday, after the Tigers had a batting meltdown in their second one-day international match against New Zealand. Bangladesh was attempting to reach a target score of 255 runs, but they were bowled out for 168 instead, resulting in a loss by 86 runs.
It would be very intriguing to watch whether Riyad is able to earn a spot on the team in the end.
In the meanwhile, Bangladesh has made some adjustments to the lineup they will use for tomorrow’s match against New Zealand, which will decide who wins the series. Liton Das, who was serving as the team’s stand-in captain, and Tamim Iqbal both received game-time rest.
The Tigers will be led into battle by Najmul Hossain Shanto, who had been sidelined with a hamstring ailment but has subsequently made a full recovery and is making his comeback. In addition, seasoned veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehedi Hasan Miraz, as well as fast bowler Shoriful Islam, have been selected for the team.
Since October of 2008, Bangladesh has not suffered a defeat at the hands of New Zealand in a bilateral series, and the Tigers will be doing all in their power to preserve that record.