Ashraful denied second chance
Bangla-desh will field an unchanged squad in the fifth and final one-dayer against Zimbabwe today, looking to clinch their sixth series in six years at home over their African opponents.
The Tigers did not lose any series to Zimbabwe on home soil since they came back from two games down to take the series 3-2, their first ever series victory against any opponents, in 2005.
Bangladesh still cannot lose the series as they hold a 2-1 lead despite their defeat in the first game, but Zimbabwe have a chance to draw series, which would be an achievement for them.
A draw against the side that appeared too naive in facing the local spinners will be effectively equal to a defeat, which prompted the team management to shun all kinds of experiments.
The decision to retain the squad that won the second and third games virtually came as a big blow for the former skipper Mohammad Ashraful, who was waiting for another chance to revive his hopes of playing in the World Cup.
Ashraful, making a comeback in the side, was just given a chance which he spurned with an ugly dismissal in the first match of the series. He was thought to have been assured of at least three games and was given a licence to do whatever he likes, but that right was taken away from him after his dreadful dismissal.
Skipper Sakib al Hasan staunchly backed Roqibul Hassan in his place and the latter grabbed his chance with both hands. His half-century in the second game shut the door for Ashraful to return.
Ashraful broke down in tears when his name was announced as 12th man before the second game, but he accepted the reality finally. While speaking to reporters informally he promised to come back stronger than ever if he was given another chance.
The team management was also keen to play him in the final game if Bangladesh had clinched the series by this time. But luck betrayed him again as rain washed out the fourth match, forcing Bangladesh to wait for their series victory.
Coach Jamie Siddons, however, did not rule out Ashraful from his World Cup plans at this stage saying he can prove his form in the upcoming Dhaka Premier League and the Super League.
‘It’s not all over for him. He can again come into the playing side if he does well in the league,’ Siddons told reporters at the Chittagong divisional stadium, ahead of the fifth game, on Saturday.
The first and foremost thing for Siddons is to win the series against Zimbabwe than a mere experiment for the World Cup, which is still more than two months away. And despite the clear difference between the sides, Siddons believed it would not be an easy task.
‘Boys should be fresh, they had two days off basically, we are 2-1 up and we want to go 3-1 up, but we need to play, as I always say, really good cricket to beat Zimbabwe,’ he said.
‘They are a very good cricket team and we need to keep them where we got them, that’s you know a little bit of indecision and lacking in confidence and we need to keep them right there,’ said Siddons.
