Wednesday was the last day to send the preliminary squad to the ICC for the T20 World Cup. Strong teams like Australia, England or India announced their World Cup squad but Bangladesh did not. Bangladesh cricket’s governing body has sent its World Cup squad list to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the scheduled date of ICC, despite not announcing the team publicly. The ICC has yet to release that list. In this situation, the criticism is – what is the fear, because of which BCB could not announce the World Cup team publicly!
Tamim Iqbal-Mahmudullah will stay or not – there has been a lot of drama about the announcement of the 2023 ODI World Cup team. Although there is no such issue this time, BCB has not changed its position regarding the World Cup team. Not only in the last two World Cups, this situation is going on in almost every World Cup.
Now there is only one concern about Soumya’s injury. The cricketer suffered leg and neck injuries in the last Sri Lanka series. Although the neck injury was not serious, he had to walk with crutches for a few days because of the leg injury. Although the condition has improved, he is not fit to play. He was also not included in the squad for the first three matches against Zimbabwe. However, BCB is waiting to see him in the last two matches in Dhaka. It is not only because of Soumya that BCB refrained from announcing the team publicly. The team management is looking forward to seeing the last two/one cricketers in the team. Their acid test will be in the Zimbabwe series.
But these reasons also do not survive in washing. Because the World Cup team can be changed without any reason until May 25. This rule of ICC is not unknown to BCB. In that case, where is the doubt of BCB? So can’t the team be revealed – has BCB given any message to ICC?
Still, BCB can take time as there is no obligation to officially announce the team on May 1. But taking this time there is another question that arises. Almost before every World Cup, the Bangladesh team is in a state of chaos. Although the World Cup is only a few days away, the team management could not confirm which 15 players will play in the Bangladesh team. Because there is doubt about who is in which position. A member of the team management said on the condition of anonymity, ‘some places have to be finalized after watching several matches in the Zimbabwe series. Because of this we could not announce the team publicly.’
Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, Abdur Razzak and Hannan Sarkar’s selection panel sent the World Cup team to the ICC, there is no such surprise. Bangladesh will go to the World Cup with all the regular cricketers. There Mahmudullah, Saifuddin survived well. There is only some apprehension about Soumya Sarkar. Still, the selectors finalized the team of 15 people by keeping him.
But since the team can be changed till May 25, in that case Soumya may have to be dropped if he is not fully fit. In the end, Tanjid Hasan Tamim or Parvez Hossain Imon will burn their foreheads if Soumya gets the World Cup ticket. But Afif is out of the World Cup, that is for sure.
Bangladesh’s pace attack with Taskin, Shariful, Mostafiz and Tanjim. Pace bowling all-rounder Saifuddin is with them. Rishad Hossain and Sheikh Mehedi are two spinners with Shakib. Liton Das and Soumya are the openers in the team led by Nazmul Hossain Shanta. Besides Tawheed Hriday, Zaker Ali Anik, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah are there.
BCB has also sent the team to ICC after finalizing everything. However, after the Zimbabwe series, a two-to-one change may come. When everything is final, why keep the World Cup team secret from the audience of Bangladesh? When asked about this from the selector Hannan Sarkar, he told the Bengali Tribune, ‘There is nothing to hide, brother. We have done our work. Our job as selectors is to make the team and give it to BCB. We did that. Now if the cricket office does not announce, we have nothing to do here.’
However, because there will be many changes in the team, the World Cup team is not being announced publicly? “That’s not the case,” says Hannan. The team is ready. But we have many matches ahead. Here someone can get injured. Someone may have some other problem. Since there is an opportunity to change the team without any reason till the 25th, if the team management wants something like that, then we will make a new team.’
Meanwhile, captain Nahzmul Hasan Shanto also said that there will be many changes from the Zimbabwean team in the World Cup team. Shakib-Mostafiz is not in the Zimbabwe team. Naturally they will be part of the World Cup team. Apart from this, depending on the survival of Soumya, the fate of Parvez or Junior Tamim will open. Giving an idea of how the World Cup team will be, captain Shanto said, ‘The series we played against Sri Lanka, and the team in this series. Most of the players will be from here for the World Cup. If everyone is healthy. Yes, two or one can be either way. But most will leave here.’
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