Bangladesh - Major changes in the offing? (30 May 1999)

30 May 1999

Bangladesh - Major changes in the offing?

Nizamuddin Ahmed in England

LONDON, May 29: The selectors are toying with the idea of dropping two from amongst captain Aminul Islam, Akram Khan, Faruque Ahmed and vice-captain Khaled Mahmud in a major shake-up of the Bangladesh team to face Pakistan on May 31 at Northampton.

The four batsmen have been a bundle of nerves and failures in this tournament.

Shahriar Hossain is definitely being recalled into the playing eleven for the match against Pakistan. The opener was dropped after his consecutive failure against New Zealand and West Indies.

Also to be included in the match will be all-rounder Neeyamur Rashid, who was given similar hopeful signals before the match against Australia.

Three major players of the team are likely to get the axe to make room for the two and medium-pacer Shafiuddin Ahmed, who along with Neeyamur remain the only uncapped players in the fifteen-man World Cup squad.

In the unlikely event of three pacers being used, Hasibul Hossain may be rested to give Shafiuddin his opportunity to have crack at the big occasion..

The players were enjoying themselves as they loosened for three hours this morning at the Northampton ground. There are no injuries. Coach Gordon Greenidge came in to the field towards the end of the three-hour practice session.

Although many are considering this as a no-contest situation, all the 7,400 tickets of Bangladesh's match against Pakistan have long been sold out.

Nationalism and demand for tickets are on the high. There is not any visible black-marketing of tickets, but many are frantically searching for one.

Source :: The Daily Star