Left-handed batsman Shahriar Nafees is likely to face the chop when Bangladesh take on Pakistan in the second Test in Dhaka from Saturday.
Nafees was out for a duck in the first innings of the first Test in Chittagong and followed it with a nervy 28 that saw few catches being put down by the Pakistani fielders.
His demoralising performance affected others as in both innings it triggered a collapse. Bangladesh were reduced to 28-4 from 17-0 in the first innings while they lost four wickets in quick succession in the second innings to become 80-4 from 75-1.
Shahriar was at the start of a collapse in the preceding one-dayer where they lost five wickets for only 14 runs after the batsman put on 69 runs with Mahmudullah in the second wicket stand.
The left hander’s poor performance with the bat was doubled after his dismal show as a fielder in the Test where he dropped several catches.
With opener Imrul Kayes working hard to regain his fitness after he was rested in the first Test match it is of high possibility that Nafees will have to make his way’, said a selector on Tuesday.
‘I think Shahriar will have to make his way provided the coach and the captain want it,’ he said.
The selectors are expected to meet today for a discussion involving the team formation ahead of the last Test which Bangladesh will take as an opportunity to regain some of their lost pride.
Apart from Shahriar, Mohammad Ashraful can call himself lucky if he is selected for the second Test after his scores, one and zero, in the comeback Test match.
Left-hander Mominul Haque is on the pipeline after his consistent performance in the last one and a half year in the domestic league and for the Bangladesh A team.
Tigers woes increased after pace bowler Rubel Hossain is most likely to miss the next match after he injured his shoulder while fielding in the first Test.
Rubel had an MRI scan on Tuesday at the Apollo Hospital but the medical report could not be gathered till the filing of the story.
The national team is expected to return to Dhaka today in the morning while their counterpart will take the evening flight.
-With The Daily Star input
