Bangladesh national team coach Shane Jurgensen backed out-of-favour batsman Naeem Islam after he was omitted from the 14-man squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka, which starts on 27 January in Dhaka. Naeem, who missed the Sri Lanka tour last year due to injury, rediscovered his form in the last ODI series against New Zealand after replacing an ailing Sakib al Hasan in the playing eleven.
Naeem continued his good work in the Bangladesh Cricket League and scored a century to push forward his case, but he still just missed out on a place in the squad.
‘If there was a 15-man squad – and not 14 – he’d be there; there’s no doubt about that,’ Jurgensen told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.
‘I’m sure if there’s an issue with injury or if things don’t quite work out, [Naeem’s] been a very good player, he’s been batting well and he’ll certainly be coming in.’
‘His role will probably be more around the middle order batting-wise.’
Jurgensen said he was happy with the squad, which was announced by new chief selector Faruk Ahmed in his first assignment since taking over from Akram Khan.
‘I think it is nice, balanced squad and whatever bowling decisions we make, we can make up with the bowling side,’ said Jurgensen.
‘The guys have been scoring runs in BCL, which has been great to see.’
‘The stuff that was mainly mentioned in our discussions was around the opening opportunity and the question marks around that,’ said Jurgensen when asked about particular points of contention in the selection process.
‘The other one was around the make-up of the bowlers. The selectors had to consider a number of different things, like the opposition and the potential conditions,’ he said.
‘Shuvo’s really stepped up with the batting. It’s a shame with Bijoy, but he’s a young man; he’ll definitely come back. He’s a very good player and he’ll certainly be considered for the one-dayers and T20, but he probably just missed out recently on four-day runs.’
Jurgensen is looking forward to a close contest against Sri Lanka, and his confidence was buoyed after Sri Lanka’s recent loss to Pakistan.
‘I think both teams match up really well, and I think we should be confident going into it. There’s no doubt they’re a very good team, but we also think there’s probably an opportunity for us.’
‘Watching the Test match yesterday [between Sri Lanka and Pakistan] and what happened in that Test, we have to believe in our cricket absolutely, 100 per cent.’
‘The more we make sure we get into a position to at least draw a game, and then we put ourselves in a position to win. If we go in there looking to win from day one, that’s maybe the mistake when I first came here two years ago; that guys would maybe hit some shots that they shouldn’t; that maybe the bowlers would go attacking when they shouldn’t.
‘We’ve got to make sure we play good cricket for a minimum of four days, then go into the fifth day and see where we’re at. Obviously in day three and day four, at those points in the game where it could swing one way, we’ve got to make sure we capitalise if there’s an opportunity there.’
Sri Lanka is due to arrive in Dhaka on January 24.
-With New Age input
