Selectors are weighing their options to provide support for batting stalwart Mushfiqur Rahim who is often seen running out of partners in Test matches.
Mushfiq is considered as one of Tigers main contributor in their batting line-up and lived up to his expectation to remain unbeaten on 23 runs during their fourth innings chase against Zimbabwe in the first Test match.
But he was in danger of running out of partners in this innings too, something which could have been fatal as Bangladesh were chasing a rare Test win.
There were lot of debates over his batting position but Mushfiq preferred to come late as the team lacked depth in their batting and is prone to sudden collapse.
In the last series against the West Indies, he came in at number six in the first innings of the first Test and had to remain content with an unbeaten 48 runs while the rest fell around him.
In the second innings of the same Test he had to bat with tail-enders for a long period to complete his third Test century. Nasir Hossain and Shuvagata Hom came after him but they were unable to lend him any support on either occasion.
Similarly, in the first innings of the just concluded Test he could not prolong further 64 runs after as he had to take the charge alone following the dismissal of Shuvagata.
With Nasir is out of contention for lack of form and Shuvagata ’s batting skill is still not convincing to meet the Test match requirement, selectors decided recall Anamul Haque, who is basically a top-order batsmen.
Anamul replaced pace bowler Al-Amin Hossain, who requested a break to attend a university exam, for the second Test and is expected to be included in starting line up.
‘We felt that our skipper Mushfiqur [Rahim] who bats at number six and also our best batsman is running out of partner,’ chief selector Faruk Ahmed told reporters on Tuesday.
‘So we are thinking if we can get him some stronger support at seven or eight without hampering the bowling combination.
‘This is why we decided to include Anamul rather as a middle order than as an opener. He is a player with a good eye but does something in Test matches with the new ball,’ he said.
It was learnt that the team management are planning to field both Marshall Ayub and Anamul in the starting line-up and play the second Test with just one pace bowler preferably Shahadat Hossain.
However, the final decision will be taken after seeing the wicket in Khulna.
Shuvagata Hom is unlikely to get chance in Khulna irrespective of the nature of wicket after he could manage just 14 runs in two innings.
Marshall Ayub is the likeliest player to replace in him in the starting line up and Anamul will play only if the team prefers to take just one player.
It was learnt coach Chandika Haturusinghe wanted Soumya Sarker in the squad as a pace bowling all-rounder but selectors did not agree considering his inexperience at international level.
-With New Age input
