A team, or national B team?
The national selectors picked a strong Bangladesh A team for their tour of India this month, which they said was an opportunity for the players, especially the pacers, to show their character ahead of the two-match Test series against Australia at home next month. The return of pacer Al-Amin Hossain had special significance, as it looked like an unofficial ban was lifted.
Al-Amin was nowhere to be seen since he was sent home from Australia during the World Cup after a disciplinary breach. Young pacer Taskin Ahmed was also drafted into the team, along with Rubel Hossain and Shafiul Islam, as the selectors were looking forward to seeing the fit-again right-hander in action in the longer version of the game after the injury.
Another pacer, Robiul Islam, was supposed to make a return, but his fitness was not up to the mark. Shohag Gazi was also left out due to fitness concerns, but according to sources, the selectors were unhappy with his behaviour. In Gazi's absence Shuvagata Hom was selected. However, the only uncapped player in the team was left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib, who impressed in the domestic circuit, and was selected as cover for Taijul Islam, who has been suffering from jaundice.
"Rubel is a very experienced player. But he hasn't played after the Pakistan series. He missed out on a number of series after that. He is an important player in our team and we want to see him return. The same goes for Taskin. We are thinking of him in the long-term. He is an option for three-day cricket. Hopefully he can do well now," said chief selector Faruque Ahmed.
The obvious question was why not young bowling sensation Mustafizur Rahman?
"Mustafizur has been playing a lot of cricket, unlike the other pacers in the side. That's the reason why Mustafizur isn't in the side. The likes of Al-Amin, for instance, need to come back. We didn't consider any disciplinary penalties for him. If you notice, all the pacers in the side have been in and out of the side. So now is their chance," explained Faruque.
"We picked this team keeping the future in mind. There are a number of youngsters in the side, and I believe it will be a big test for them as they are going to face a strong Indian side," said selector Habibul Bashar.
The second-string Bangladesh side will reach Bangalore on September 13 where they will play three limited-overs matches against their Indian counterparts on September 16, 18 and 20 and the second three-dayer from September 27 to 29 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. In between, they will play the first three-dayer against Ranji Trophy champions Karnataka in Mysore over September 22-24.
SQUAD
Anamul Hoque, Rony Talukdar, Liton Das, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarker, Mominul Hoque (captain), Nasir Hossain (vice-captain), Saqlain Sajib, Arafat Sunny, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shuvagata Hom and Jubair Hossain.