Bashar starts new innings

Shakil Kasem (4th from R), head of management committee GP-BCB NCA and Grameenphone's chief communication officer Kazi Monirul Kabir (4th from L) pose for photographs along with the coaches and captains of Bangladesh and South Africa National Academy teams after a press conference in Gulshan yesterday. PHOTO: COURTESY

Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar will launch a different innings from tomorrow when the Grameenphone-BCB Academy Cup 2010 gets underway with a four-day match against the touring South Africa National Cricket Academy at Chittagong.
Bashar, who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket last month, will act as team operations manager of GP-BCB NCA. With Bashar assuming a new role and former assistant coach of national team Sarwar Imran as the head coach, many feel the platform for future national cricketers is embarking on a new chapter.
"I have always been with cricket. So, the environment is nothing new for me although I will have to play a different role. To be frank I have played with some of these boys," said Bashar during the official launching ceremony of the GP-BCB Academy Cup at the Grameenphone's headquarters in Gulshan.
There will be two four-day matches, three one-day games and two T20s at four different venues --Chittagong, Bogra, BKSP and Dhaka, in the competition which will conclude on May 11.
The Grameenphone Academy Cup logo was unveiled at the press conference. The Grameenphone-BCB Cricket Academy team that will play in the Grameenphone Academy Cup against the visitors was also announced at the event.
Shakil Kasem -- head of management committee, GP-BCB NCA & member, game development committee of BCB, Kazi Monirul Kabir, chief communications officer of Grameenphone and the two captains spoke at the press conference.
Both the coaches and the captains see this competition as a chance to have some exposure for them. While the Africans are expected to face an acid test against the home spinners and the weather, the local boys will be up against some tall and fiery pace bowlers. However, gaining good experience rather than worrying about the outcome was the mood in the two camps. Though, Shakil Kashem rued the fact that the youngsters did not have a training camp due to participation in the local leagues, their counterparts had a three three-day camp prior to their departure after their cricket season had finished.
The visitors have a 15-member squad while the hosts have the luxury to test most of the 24 up and coming stars. Mohammad Mithun will lead home side in all three formats while Wiann Van Zyl will captain South Africa NCA.
TEAMS
BANGLADESH A: Zunaed Siddique (Captain), Shamsur Rahman, Shahriar Nafees Ahmed, Mehrab Hossain Jr., Forhad Hossain, Faysal Hossain, Roqibul Hasan, Nazim Uddin, Sahagir Hossain, Enamul Haque Jr., Nur Hossain, Kazi Shahadat Hossain, Mahbubul Alam, Sk. Robiul Islam
SOUTH AFRICA A: Rilee Roussouw, Stiaan van Zyl, Johan van der Wath, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Dean Elgar Alviro Petersen, Thami Tsolekile (Captain), Jonathan Vandiar, Vernon Philander, Thandi Tshabalala, Ethy Mbalathi, Quinton Friend, Heino Kuhn