OPENING PARTNERSHIP Still a head-scratcher
Bangladesh may have won their last two Tests at home on the trot but despite a return to winning ways the opening slot remains one of the biggest concerns for the team management.
Tamim Iqbal opened the innings in four of Bangladesh's seven Tests this year with two different partners -- Imrul Kayes and Liton Das -- but both disappointed with their performances.
In those eight innings, the Tigers' openers have managed to add fifty-run stands just twice while having lost their first wicket in the remaining innings with the scoreboard reading four, three, 10, 14, 20 and two.
However, since Tamim injured his left-hand in the Asia Cup in September, the likes of Imrul, Liton and even Soumya Sarkar were handed opportunities to impress in the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe and the recently-concluded first Test against the West Indies.
"Obviously we have always had expectations on those who played in that [opening] position as they are our top players. As openers we want them to bat with assurance and be capable of batting for at least two sessions of a Test match. We totally failed in this department over the last ten innings," chief selector Minhajul Abedin told The Daily Star yesterday.
On the back of his magnificent maiden ODI hundred in the final of the Asia Cup against India, Liton was unable to replicate his performance in the game's longest format. He scored nine, 23, nine and six against Zimbabwe in four innings and was consequently dropped from the Test series against the West Indies.
Experienced campaigner Imrul also followed the same trajectory. After hitting two centuries and a 90-plus innings in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, he has only managed scores of five, 43, 0, three, 44 and two in his last six Test innings.
Although Imrul finished as the second-highest run-getter in the Tigers' first innings of the first Test against the West Indies with a 44-run knock to perhaps give the impression that he played his part, a lack of consistency and the manner of his dismissals remain questionable.
Speaking of consistency, Imrul has not been able to reach 50 in his last 22 innings.
Even Soumya, who announced his return to the national side with a blistering hundred against Zimbabwe in the third ODI, was given an opportunity against the West Indies but he too failed with scores of 0 and 11. However, more concerning for the team management than his low scores should be the manner of his dismissals as he went for loose shots in both innings.
Selectors have already drafted newcomer Shadman Islam into the squad and there is a chance for the left-hander to debut in the second Test. While chances of Tamim's return are still 50-50, the team management will still have concerns over the other slot even if he returns.
"At the moment there is less room for experimentation. We have given opportunities but they failed to utilise those. It was a great opportunity for them and ultimately if they are unable to grab the chance, someone else will come up," selector Habibul Bashar said.
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