2.
I was always confused about the selectors capability but after the selection of the World cup squad I am sure they are not capable to handle such major selection process. Mashud is not only experienced but also versatile in both batting and wicketkeeping. He is one of the best wicketkeepers in the world. So, I will urge to the board to select Mashud as soon as possible and recruit new and experienced people for selection.
Saikh Chowdhury

3.
Oh Pilot!
Just when selectors from all other countries are opting for experience, the selectors of Bangladesh national team opted for youth and successfully picked up a controversy out of thin air. Khaled Mashud a tested veteran of our cricket team was omitted from the world cup squad and young Mushfiqur Rahim was given a chance. Khaled Mashud, who was rested for the Scotland matches, was left out of the Zimbabwe tour because of injury. There should be no question about Khaled Mashud's ability as a wicket keeper batsman and no one can deny his contributions for the Bangladesh team. Those who follow Bangladesh cricket would agree that until recently Bangladesh batting started at number six or seven with Khlaled Mashud and Md. Rafique. I do not doubt the potential of Mushfiqur Rahim a bit as the next wicket keeper batsman. But he is too young and probably too inexperienced to shoulder the responsibility of a wicket keeper in the world cup. Although he did quite well with the bat in Zimbabwe, from what I have read in the papers, his keeping was not up to the mark.

BCB has become quite authoritarian in recent times. They want to instill fear to bring discipline into the team. Subservience, not the form, has become the prime criterion for selection for the national team. The accusation that Pilot was the whistleblower in the 'Reebok commission' scandal (which the selectors were able to bury successfully without proper investigation) has cost him dearly. Recently the board has penalized Khaled Mashud, Md. Ashraful, and Aftab Ahmed for trivial reasons. Those who listened know that Ashraful and Aftab's comments were actually complements to their fellow teammates and was in no way disrespectful. It looks like, they were not done with Khaled Mashud and this omission from the team is just an extension of the punishment he received for being outspoken, although the selectors are saying otherwise. They said that they looked for experience, hence the inclusion of Javed Omar and Rajin Saleh; rightly so, then why not Khaled Mashud?? They said that they also looked at performance. If you look at performance in the national league, Tushar Imran and Al-Shahriar are ahead of many national players and if you look at the performance for the national team then why is Ashraful included?? He is the most inconsistent yet he is in the team!

Yes, we need Ashraful in the team because of the miracles he can make happen, we also need Khaled Mashud because of the resistance he can put at the lower order and the confidence he can spread among team mates and supporters. Khaled Mashud's batting average (21.9) is right there with other specialist batsmen's ( Bashar -22.0, Ashraful 20.4, Rajin 23.8, Javed 23.9). There is no doubt that he is the victim of personal vendetta of the selectors. Right when everything was looking good for Bangladeshi cricket, this controversy, on the eve of the world cup will bring, Bangladesh cricket no good.

For us, non-resident Bangladeshis, who stare at the internet screen on numerous sleepless nights and ardently follow Bangladeshi cricket, this is a disheartening prospect. Khaled Mashud Pilot will be 'Dear Piloitta' to us for many days to come. I will never forget his 'good bowling, Moni bhai, that's the line, Moni bhai' shouts from behind the stumps. We demand the inclusion of Pilot in the National Team. We still believe in his abilities in delivering when it matters the most, which he had done many times before, and will never forget his contribution in Bangladesh cricket.
Shahed Iqbal

4.
It's obvious that Mashud's performances with the bat weren't up to the standards. However, we have to ask ourselves, what has Mushfiqur Rahim done to warrant a place instead of him. Does performance against Zimbabwe, the worlds' worst top-tier bowling attack, count as being successful enough? His wicketkeeping has enough lacking which cannot be covered by his batting. We are a spinner dependent attack and we need a good wicketkeeper. Do we lack so much faith in our top-order batsmen that we need to back them up with a keeper who is as good as his batting?

Also, I can see no justification in playing Javed Omar. Pretty soon, he will be out of the selection frame and this just seems a stage for him to bid farewell. Rajin, I can understand, is still young and might make it to the team someday. Tushar Imran should feel unlucky to be left out rather harshly. If he'd received half the chances as Ashraful did, he'd have scored double the runs of Ashraful, albeit with higher consistency, if not the same belligerence.

We brought back Minhazul Abedin in World Cup 1999 by popular demand, so it's really never too late for anything.
Nayef M Khan

5.
Most of the players who have been included in the Bangladesh World Cup squad automatically select themselves. Mushfiqur Rahim, Javed Omar and Rajin Saleh are the exceptions. Mushfiq batted well against Zimbabwe. Is there any guarantee that he will do the same against India or Sri Lanka in the West Indies ? Mashud did not go to Zimbabwe, so we do not know how he would have fared. He has however played well in the West Indies in the past. Class, they say, is permanent, while form is temporary. Look at what happened to Sourav Ganguly. Greg Chappell and others are having to eat humble pie. As regards keeping wickets, Mashud is in a separate class. It would be silly to try to compare the two.

Mushfiq will find it difficult to stand up to Rasel. He will find it difficult to keep to Razzaq and Rafique. Catches will be dropped. Stumping chances will go a-begging. The picture is not pretty.

Javed Omar is usually considered to be a Test player, because of his limpet-like qualities. In the one-day format his shots are limited to the square cut. When played uppishly it has often brought about his downfall. Tushar Imran should have got in, in place of Javed.

Rajin Saleh was at his best when we toured Pakistan. Since then he has lost it, despite a century against Kenya(?)

Sharif could have come in for Rajin. He would probably have scored as much as Rajin will, and bowled a lot better.

The impression I get from looking at the team is that the selectors have decided that we are not going to go beyond the 25th of March. Put up a fight against India and Sri Lanka; which basically means don't lose all the wickets in the 50 overs, and beat Bermuda. That way Messrs. Faruque, G.M.N.Prince and A.A. Khan get to keep their jobs.

It is time to get rid of the bunch of clowns and make a fresh start. A message to the CTG (caretaker government). Since they have been successful elsewhere, why not here.
Dilip Mukherji

6.
I think that calling up Javed Omar and Saleh are ok but in the same way, leaving out Khaled Masud Pilot was totally wrong.

The selection panel should be changed.
Touhid Islam

7.
Hello,
Interest of country should come before personal interest. To be honest Bangladesh do not have much option. We do not have any match-winning batsman/bowler. It is all dependant on collective performance. Everyone has to chip in with the bat. Knowing Mushfiq can bat a little along with being not-a-bad keeper, the decision to pick him over Mashud was justified. As for others, we do have serious problem in terms of opening pair. I think they need to try out with England A team. Tamim is a good stroke player, but without a good defence, I call them good slog players. Anyway, he is our best bet along with Shahriar. May be we just have to waste one batsman. Best of luck to Bangladesh.
Shalauddin Ahmed

8.
Bangladesh cricket team made a big mistake of eliminating Khaled Mashud. For this the Bangladesh team will suffer. He was a very good wicketkeeper but he had one problem that I can say that he scores less runs, sometimes even from the bowlers.
Fasal Iqbal

9.
Mashud dropped...oh! Its just horrible, unexpected, unhealthy & really an injustice to Pilot & now its so much logical to throw the questions to the selectors that are they biased in someway to take a decision like this! The proper authority should take a step to investigate the real instincts & make sure to eliminate all bad & wrong decisions because the performance of the national cricket team in the World Cup is a matter of national prestige & no one has any rights to weigh down our national pride.
Irfan Newaz Khan

10.
Why this unfair treatment for Pilot?
Bangladesh Cricket Board has recently announced the 15 members preliminary squad for the upcoming world cup cricket to be held in West Indies. Faruque Ahmed led selectors panel has already received good support from the cricket lovers of this country for their consistent unbiased selection of the national team. Merit is the only critera for the inclusion of any player in the national team--that's what our chief selector has said time & again. Moreover he is also in favour of giving a chance to the experienced players. He wants to make a team with young & experienced players to give it a proper balance.

Nobody has ever raised any serious question about his selection of team in recent times. Because we know he is doing his job sincerely.

But with due respect to our chief selector, I would like to say that it was really unfair to drop an experienced player like Khaled Mashud Pilot ahead of such an important tournament like the World Cup. I know that Mashud's recent form is against his inclusion of the team. However I must say that no other guy is at present suitable to replace Mashud.

Mashud is a highly experienced cricketer & he is a genuine fighter. He can play crucial knock at critical times, he has proved it before & can prove it again. So to drop a guy of his stature ahead of the World Cup is unfortunate indeed. Pilot has given a long service to Bangladesh Cricket & he rightly deserves a honourable farewell. So I would like to request the BCB to include Khaled Mashud Pilot in the squad so that he can say goodbye to cricket in a respectable manner.
Nazmus Saquib

11.
Our team selectors are very much peculiar than the rest of the world. Actually they have no real knowledge about cricket. We do not still set up an ideal batting line up for the team. Our selectors only know how to make debut new cricketers. I cant believe that Khaled Masud is not in the list for the world cup. I do not understand how they dare to take a risk like this in the world cup. I think Faruque is not perfect for this post.
Anisur Rahman

12.
I am lost for words about Khaled Mashud's omission from the Bangladesh World Cup squad. No wicketkeeper in Bangladesh is even close to him in terms of ability and consistency and he has proven this on numerous occasions. Also, he makes invaluable contribution as the 'team-man' - always encouraging teammates and keeping the spirit high. One option could have been to take two keepers in the squad, which many other teams are doing. I think the honourable selectors will realize their mistake pretty soon. By then, it will be too late. I believe Mashud still has a lot to contribute to Bangladesh cricket. Also, young Mushfiqur Rahim will be under extra pressure due to Mashud's controversial omission.
Sami

13.
This is the best possible team for Bangladesh. And please stop creating a mess before the very crucial world cup for Bangladesh. Your reporters are writing some 'romantic novel' style report which is definitely not timely. No one is above the country. Please rise above the personal choices and try to support Bangladesh team. This sort of reporting will create division and destroy morale of the team.
Khondaker Mirazur Rahman

14.
Faruque and gang are at it again and this time it is at the expense of the one of the best wicketkeepers in the game of cricket. It is hard to believe that someone in the right state of mind would leave out Mashud for a tournament of the utmost importance as the world cup. Not to undermine the efforts of Mushfiqur Rahim or anything but when it comes to the big stage, most teams prefer to stick with their experienced bunch except if you are Bangladesh that is. What is more surprising than the exclusion of Pilot are the inclusions of players like Javed Omar and Rajin Saleh which took the total number of specialist openers in the team to five. This not only is a blatant error in the decision making process of the committee but also undermines their honesty as their reason for dropping Mashud was that they wanted a keeper who can perform with the bat. Rajin is slated to be the backup keeper of the team which makes you wonder about the true reasons behind the axing of Khaled Mashud.

I feel that we still have enough time to rectify this ghastly mistake and bring back the player who had given his heart and soul to Bangladesh Cricket. Faruque Ahmed has proven that he can not be trusted as a selector as he has failed to keep his personal issues away from the cricket field which can dearly hurt our Tigers in the upcoming world Cup.
Azeem Choudhury

15.
Some of the reasoning given by chief selector Faruque Ahmed behind the squad selection is very questionable.

Syed Rasel's pace is pedestrian. What good is it to bring variety to the squad if he is belted by the opponents for 50/60 runs. I reckon he will come as second or third change bowler. Remember, the WC has two power play options. So against his pedestrian pace the opponents will definitely have a go. I don't see him restricting runs. Bad choice.

Javed Omar has served Bangladesh for a long time. So has Khaled Mashud. Yet the reasons for picking and dropping each one is totally contradictory. Javed has been selected for his experience. His domestic season hasn't been worth mentioning. He is very limited in his stroke play and eats up a lot of balls. His cut shot can easily be stopped by putting players on the off side. His choice is a total disappointment. On the other hand, Mashud has been dropped, despite his wealth of experience, for his bad form. So is it form or experience that our selectors are looking at? Faruque is totally wrong in his selection and explanation.

Tushar Imran has been unlucky. One game against Zim and he is dropped. Has he done any worse than Mohammad Ashraful, our prodigal son, who can't make any sort of score nowadays. Ashraful's bloated ego and lack of ability to learn from his mistakes will bite back Bangladesh in the world cup.

Mohammad Sharif should have been picked. He can ball stump to stump.

Don't agree if Rajin plays as an opener. He is not a genuine opener.
The rest is ok.
Rubaiyat Kibria

16.
I wonder how Javed Omar gets a place in the national team while the selectors exclude Khaled Mashud. And I don't understand how Rajin Saleh is considered to be a stand-by wicketkeeper. I am sure the selectors are not playing it fair.
Shehzaad Shams

17.
Dear Sports Fan of Bangladesh, I am an avid fan of cricket, I was shocked like many of my fellow countrymen to see the blatant display of abuse of power by the Chief Selector Faruque Ahmed. When the country is going through major changes, when we are finally breaking the shackles of the BNP and AL corruption in the political front, through the abuse of power and lies Mr. Faruque Ahmed has again reminded us that in Bangladesh the impossible is still possible. We must not simply digest this insult, we must ask the proper authority to remove Mr. Faruque Ahmed from his current position for the abuse of power, we all know why he has a grudge against the whistle-blower Khaled Mashud. Someone from the fifteen-man squad must be dropped under the injury clause and replaced by Mashud. Habibul Bashar should remind himself that he does not have a stellar performance record either, it is a shame that he did not stand up for Khaled Mashud, should we assume then that he might have benefited from the sports deal as well.
Respectfully,
Tanvir Raquib

18.
Authority of BCB
I want Mashud as a team member of Cricket World Cup Squad. Its' not time to practice a young boy like Rahim.
Kishor

19.
This can only happen in Bangladesh only! We can remember selectors did not pick Habibul Bashar for the inaugural Test match of the country. Pressure under all sorts of people & media helped him to get into the team. Later what he had done was history.

For the World Cup 1999 selectors did not take Minhajul Abedin into their consideration. Again pressure forced them to change their decision.

Now when Bangladesh is growing up as an emerging team in world cricket we would like to expect a little maturity from our selectors. Today I hit the cricinfo website and saw that the age of Khaled Mashud is only 31 years. Mushfiqur Rahim is only 18 and a half years. No doubt, Rahim has a bright future in the upcoming days. But Khaled Mashud cannot be neglected in any way. He is a talented cricketer. He has served the team for a long time. Selectors should take into consider that Mashud was dropped from the team twice or more. But his replacements could not perform even close to him. Selectors are now showing that Mushfiq has done well in the Zimbabwe tour. But this cannot be the logic to neglect the experience of Mashud. A team already proved as the worst team of the cricket world cannot be the scale to judge the performance. We are to face the teams like India & Sri Lanka in the world cup. Moreover world cup is something special for every cricketer. We don't know how Mushfiq can bear this pressure.

Lastly what Mr. Faruk said yesterday on the test century of Masud in West Indies has hurt us a lot. We firmly want that the decision be changed immediately.
Syed Sarwoer Rash