Bangladesh look to bolster their batting strength when they take on South Africa in the second Twenty20 match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today. Opener Rony Talukdar is expected to make his international debut in place of Sohag Gazi for the game, scheduled to start at 1:00 pm. Bangladesh will play the game to save the two-match series after being thrashed by 52 runs in the opening match at the same ground.
Team management discussed several options on Monday ahead of the game and apparently decided to give Rony a go in order to add some depth in the side’s batting.
Bangladesh’s batting failed miserably in the opening game as they were bundled out for 96 runs on a pitch that should have been known by the Tigers as much their palms.
Rony is expected to bat down the order after Sohag failed to add any sparkle having been included in the side as a bowling all-rounder.
Sohag gave away 16 runs in his two overs while scored only three runs to make a subdued comeback in international cricket with a remodeled bowling action.
Sohag was banned by the ICC after his action was found to be illegal in a biomechanical Test in Cardiff last year. He was reported by the umpires after a one-day international against West Indies in last August.
Rony, the highest scorer in the Dhaka Premier League, was included in the national team during both the home series against Pakistan and India.
As the Tigers were doing fine in both the series he could not be accommodated in the starting line-up for any game.
Bangladesh achieved success in the recent World Cup with eight batsmen and team-management was believed to go back to the formula, paving the way for Rony’s debut.
It would left leg-spinner Jubair Hossain still waiting for his Twenty20 debut, though his name was seriously considered in Monday’s selection meeting.
-With New Age input
