Opening batman Shamsur Rahman was rewarded for his recent form with a place in the Test set-up on Monday when Bangladesh named its 14-man squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Shamsur, who played a brilliant knock of 96 runs in the third one-day international against New Zealand to help Bangladesh complete a 3-0 sweep, continued his impressive run in recent domestic matches.
He struck a double-century and a fifty in the ongoing Bangladesh Cricket League, which had all but assured his inclusion in Test squad.
The struggles of Anamul Haque, who partnered with Tamim Iqbal in the New Zealand series, also allowed Imrul Kayes to return to the Test side as a potentially back-up opener having displayed some good form of his own in recent matches.
Anamul and Naeem Islam were left out to make room for Imrul, who last played in a Test against the West Indies in 2011, and Shamsur.
‘Imrul and Shamsur are not completely new players,’ chief selector Faruk Ahmed said at a press conference on Monday, ‘They are already experienced. Also both of them are playing very well for the last six months.
‘Since we took three top-order batsmen, we had to drop someone from the middle order. Competition was between Naeem and Mahmudullah.
‘Mahmudullah can bowl in the longer version, which we think will give the captain an added option,’ he said.
Naeem scored a century in the Bangladesh Cricket League first round, but Faruk said it was not impressive enough to be in the Test side. He was not, however, ready to write off the middle-order batsman completely.
‘It’s not that Naeem batted very well in this four-day series,’ Faruk said. ‘However, he batted well in the last one-day series, so he is also in our consideration. If you have just one option you have to go either way.’
Mahmudullah, a former vice-captain who lost his place in the starting line-up to Mominul Haque against New Zealand, also seems to have beaten out another strong contender in Farhad Reza with his off-spin bowling.
Farhad has been in brilliant form since the Dhaka Premier League, where he led unheralded Prime Doleshwar to the Super League. His 153 in the BCL first round improved his Test chances, as the all-rounder has the ability to serve the team as a third seamer.
‘We had a long discussion over Farhad,’ said Faruk. ‘He is a very effective bowler in one-day or T20. He never bowls that quickly, but he has got variation and on top of that he is in form.’
‘We will definitely consider him, but not in the Test series. Here we have taken three seamers; if the team management want they can field all three.’
Sri Lanka are scheduled to arrive on January 24 to play two Tests, three ODIs and two T20Is.
The first Test will be held at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from January 27 to 31.
-With New Age input
