Faith in the trusted

There was no surprise call-up when Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 17-member national squad yesterday for the upcoming two-match Test and three-match one-day series against South Africa.
It was expected that ace left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique would be included amongst the probables but the most significant decision taken by the Rafiqul Alam-led three-member selection panel was the omission of opener Javed Omar.
Three players -- Tushar Imran, Nazmul Hossain & Mehrab Hossain were also excluded from the party that toured New Zealand.
It looks likely that the new team management, better to say new coach Jamie Siddons, are all set to put to an end the dilemma about Javed as they didn't even consider the veteran for the six-member reserve list where veteran wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud heads a list featuring Nazimuddin, Talha Jubair, Dollar Mahmud, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mosharraf Hossain.
The right-hander has also not been considered for the 14-member team which was announced yesterday to play the three-day warm-up match, which will take place at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium from February 17-19, against South Africa.
The selection of Javed in the past had never been without questions, especially his inclusion in the one-day squad were his style has always been pedestrian.
Many thought that the headache in the opening position would never be solved until the selectors stopped their policy of using Javed as a fill-in.
Siddons however was courageous enough to take a harsh decision against the veteran opener during the New Zealand tour to make way for two uncapped youngsters-- Zunaed and Tamim, both of who vindicated the coach's decision.
Javed, who returned home after the one-day series without playing any match in New Zealand, made a half-century in the last practice match yesterday in favour of Team C (200-8) against Team B (177 all out) but it was not good enough for a change of heart from the selectors.
“This decision has been taken because we are now looking forward. Tamim (Iqbal) and Zunaed (Siddiqe) both showed their considerable potential in New Zealand and plus Shahriar Nafees is an important player for us as well,” said chief selector Rafiqul, explaining the decision to axe Javed.
“There was no reason to make wholesale changes. We announced a 17-member squad because of some injury problems in the team but all 23 players (seventeen in the squad and six in the reserve bench) will be considered for both the Tests and one-day series," he added.
The national selectors will announce a 13-member team for the Test series once they get a final report about the fitness of left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal, who injured his left thumb during the tour of New Zealand.
The camp with the seventeen players will start on February 9 at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.