BCB announces provisional squad for NZ series
Nazimuddin has been recalled to the national fold when Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 26-member provisional squad for the upcoming five-match one-day series against New Zealand at home.
The right-hander had started with lot of promise but soon jeopardised his international career by joining the banned Indian Cricket League (ICL). Quitting the ICL, the Chittagonian made a fresh start and could finally draw the attention of the national selectors by performing well in the domestic circuit and with the Bangla-desh A team.
“He (Nazimuddin) played well in the domestic tournament to find a place in the A team. He was brilliant with the A team against West Indies A and South Africa A teams. He deserved a national call,” explained chief selector Rafiqul Alam.
Left-handed opener Shahriar Nafees also found a place in the long list but all-rounder Alok Kapali failed to make it to the 26-man squad.
“We considered regular in and out players in the provisional squad. Actually we were not in a position to make any massive changes in the team because this young team has been playing very good cricket in the last one and a half years,” said Rafiqul.
“Kapali’s performance was below average and he was out of international cricket for last three years. Fitness was also an issue but still he has a chance to get a place in the World Cup squad if he show something special in the coming domestic competitions,” he added.
There was much talk about the World Cup preparations but understandably the selectors announced the squad for the next assignment as the team think-tank has been thinking on a series by series basis.
“Though we made the provisional squad for the New Zealand tour but you can consider it a shadow World Cup side. But still some players may be included when we announce the 30-member squad for the World Cup,” said Rafiqul adding this current team is progressing slowly but steadily.
BCB’s technical committee discussed the team and preparations yesterday where coach Jamie Siddons gave the board officials some ideas about his plan and programme with the team.
“We told Jamie to go according to his plan,” informed BCB’s media committee chairman Jalal Yunus.
Jalal also informed that the technical committee proposed the name of Tanjib Ahsan Saad as a team operations manager till World Cup.
The selected cricketers are asked to report to Jamie Siddons at the GP-BCB National Cricket Academy on Saturday at 11:00am.
SQUAD
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddique, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmud-ullah Riyad, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Jahirul Islam, Rokibul Hassan, Naeem Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain, Faisal Hossain, Nazimuddin, Shahriar Nafees, Mahbubul Alam, Dollar Mahmud, Sohrawordi Shuvo, Robiul Islam, Shamsur Rahman and Sahagir Hossain.
