The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced the squad for this year's Asia Cup
on Monday, selecting fourteen players from a preliminary list of eighteen.
The team will once again be lead by Aminul Islam, who has two victories
under his belt from eleven ODIs. The selectors based their decisions on
experience of the players rather than youth and zeal. Only one uncapped
player Mushfiq Babu was included in the side. Very interestingly, the team
has four off-spinners. Mohammad Rafiq, the left handed all rounder who was
the highest wicket taker in the Bangladesh Premier League among the local
players, with 25 from 16 matches. Enamul Haq, another left arm off spinner
had 24, while Naimur Rahman, a middle order batsman but used frequently as
a bowler had the same number. Mushfiq Babu is the other off spinner in the
side. Hasibul Hossain, the country's leading pacer with Manjurul Islam will
be in charge of the new ball.
The team will miss the services of opener Mehrab Hossain, Bangladesh's only
centurion in one day internationals, who is out with an injury. Javed Omar
will replace him to partner Shahriar Hossain to open the innings. The
middle order looks pretty solid with Akram Khan, Habibul Bashar, Aminul
Islam and Khaled Masud, who will be behind the stumps as always.
Vice-captain and all rounder Khaled Mahmud almost lost his place due to his
poor form in recent times, but he was still picked on the basis that he is
Bangladesh's second highest wicket taker in ODIs. In the absence of Eddie
Barlow the team is being coached by Sarwar Imran, who is also the coach of
Abahani Club, the winners of this year's premier league.
The Squad: Aminul Islam (captain), Khaled Mahmud (vice-captain), Javed
Omar, Shahriar Hossain, Akram Khan, Habibul Bashar, Naimur Rahman, Khaled
Masud, Mushfiq Babu, Enamul Haq, Mohammad Rafiq, Hasibul Hossain, Manjurul
Islam and Shafiuddin Ahmed