Bangladesh: Akram Khan Back in the fold (6 November 1998)

6 November 1998

Bangladesh: Akram Khan Back in the fold

Our Sports Reporter

Akram Khan earned a recalled to the national team when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)

yesterday announced a 16-member squad for the three limited-over matches against the visiting West Indies A team.

Akram, the most successful captain of Bangladesh, was booted out from the elite echelon after the disappointing tour of the national team to England, Scotland and Ireland. The burly right-hander, who led Bangladesh to the ICC Trophy triumph in Malaysia last year, was not only stripped of his captaincy, but in a surprise move by the selectors, also denied a place in the ACC Trophy squad.

Although the decision brought out to a welcome sigh of relief for the neutral followers of the game, the national selectors, however, failed to provide any satisfactory reasons for their uncanny attitude of chopping and changing.

Aminul Islam, who replaced Akram, has retained his job after successfully leading the national team in the ACC Trophy, a sub-standard tournament that held in Kathmandu last month.

Also returning to the national team after a long-time is Harun-ur-Rashid Liton. The balding Kalabagan opener donned the national cap in the ACC Trophy way back in 1996.

Besides, young off-spinner Fahim Muntasir Sumit, got his first call to the national team, and will fill the void of injured left-arm spinner Mohammed Rafique.

Apart from the three inclusions, the selectors kept faith on the ACC squad. Only Sabbir Khan, who didn't play a single match in Kathmandu, has been excluded.

Bangladesh will play the first limited-over match against the second string side from the Caribbean at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on November 7. The second of the three over-limit exhibition match will be held in Rajshahi on November 9. The last one-day will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on November 10.

The West Indies A, who were scheduled to arrive in Dhaka last night, is expected to fly in the city early this morning due to a delay in flight schedule. The touring side, in their ten-day visit to Bangladesh, will also feature in a three-day match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, starting from November 12.

Meanwhile, the BCB have announced the rate of tickets for the two limited-over matches as well as the three-day match to be played at the Bangabandhu national Stadium.

The rate of tickets of two limited-over matches (per day per person) are: VIP- Tk 300; Club House (west) - Tk 250; Club House (East)- 200; International Gallery - Tk 150; Special Enclosure (Club Concession) - Tk 50, Western Gallery- Tk 50; Eastern Gallery- Tk 40.

Aminul Islam (captain), Khaled Mahmud (vice-captain), Javed Omar Belim, Shahriar Hossain, Harun-ur Rashid, Faruque Ahmed, Al-Shahriar, Akram Khan, Enamul Huque, Fahim Muntasir, Khaled Masood (wicketkeeper), Safiuddin Ahmed, Hasibul Hossain, Morshed Ali Khan, Hasanuzzaman and Mushfiqur Rahman.

Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)