Selectors are unlikely to bring any major changes to the Bangladesh squad for the Asian Games as it seeks to retain the gold medal, said chief selector Faruk Ahmed.
‘I have told you earlier that we will send our best possible team,’ Faruk told New Age on Thursday. ‘There is very little room for change. From the squad that just left for West Indies you can expect only one or two changes.’
The deadline for sending the squad list to the Asian Games organisers will end today, but Faruk said they have already completed their job.
‘We have already gave the team to the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Now it is up to the board to announce it. Hopefully they will do it in a day or two.’
Pace bowler Mashrafee bin Murtaza is expected to lead the team at the Games in the absence of regular captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who took leave for his wedding, to be held on September 27.
The BCB sources said the selectors opted against picking any wicketkeeper in Mushfiq’s place as Anamul Haque and Mohammad Mithun can fill the role as wicketkeeper-batsman.
All-rounder Sabbir Rahman, who helped Bangladesh win the gold medal four years ago in Guangzhou with two towering sixes against Afghanistan in the final, is tipped to take Mushfiq’s place.
Opening batsman Imrul Kayes, who is not considered as a Twenty20 material, is the only other player from the West Indies-bound squad not to make it to the Asian Games squad.
His place would be given most likely to Arafat Sunny, who is expected to go to Korea as an additional spinner.
Bangladesh have a good chance of retaining the gold medal in Korea as apart from Sri Lanka no other Asian giants have sent their entry yet.
According to the Asian Cricket Council website, South Korea, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka have made their entries so far in men’s cricket.
The deadline for sending the entry also ends today with the Indian organisers trying to convince the Board of Control for Cricket in India to send at least a second-string side.
Indian daily Times of India on Thursday reported that there was little chance for India to send a very strong team as the Asian Games schedule clashes with the Champions League Twenty20, which will be held from September 13 to Oct 4.
Officials said if India agrees to send their team they will be given a bye in group phase like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Pakistan, who had participated in Guangzhou, has decided to skip the Incheon Games.
Pakistan, however, will send a team in women’s category alongside South Korea, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
probable squad
Mashrafee bin Murtaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Shamsur Rahman, Mominul Haque, Rubel Hossain, Nasir Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Abdur Razzak, Sabbir Rahman, Arafat Sunny, Sohag Gazi, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain.
-With New Age input
