Bangladesh: Tanveer defends Faruque's inclusion (1 April 1999)

1 April 1999

Bangladesh: Tanveer defends Faruque's inclusion

Our Sports Reporter

The residential camp of the England-bound Bangladesh cricket team resumes at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) today after a six-day recess due to Eid.

The elite fifteen, selected for the forthcoming World Cup, reported to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) office last evening from where they were taken to the country's lone sports institute in Savar.

Although Gordon Greenidge, the West Indian coach of the national team, was not available at the BCB last night, the manager of the Bangladesh team Tanveer Muzhar Islam said that the team will remain at the BKSP till the second week of April.

The Bangladesh team leaves for England on April 14, one month before the beginning of the World Championship.

But Tanveer said that Faruque Ahmed will accompany the BCB Eleven to play a few matches in Pakistan. The second-string side, led by Habibul Bashar, will leave Dhaka on April 3 to take part in the Wills Cup. The limited-overs tournament will commence from April 4. It was also learnt that Faruque will play in the opening two matches.

Faruque, who was sidelined during the Meril International tri-nation tournament due to injury, was drafted into the Pakistan-bound side so that the player could gain some much-needed match practice before the last championship of the century.

"Faruque is going to England. We have already sent the final fifteen list to the ICC,'' said Tanveer, adding that the board had decided to send the experienced batsman so that he was match-fit he before the World Cup.

Although Faruque made a speedy recovery thanks to Australian physio Alan Hunt, all-rounder Naimur Rahman is still nursing a knee injury. The dapper right-hander has been advised to take a six-week rest.

Injuries aside, Greenidge should be more concerned with how his boys fair in this tournament if their current results are anything to go by. Bangladesh lost all four matches, including two heavy defeats against arch-rivals Kenya, in the meet that also included champions Zimbabwe.

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