BCCI dispelling all media gossips has selected strongest possible test and ODI teams for the ensuing series against new look Bangladesh. This is in a way showing respect and honoring the growing stature of Bangladesh Cricket team and its recent form. Bangladesh in the past has beaten full strength Indian team in 2007 World cup and 2012 Asia cup. Even the quarter final of world Cup 2015 at MCG could be far more competitive if few controversial umpiring decisions would not have all gone against Bangladesh.
ODI Squad
MS Dhoni (C), Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, A Rayudu, R Ashwin, Jadeja, Akshar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Stuart Binny, Dhawal Kulkarni
Test Squad:
Virat Kohli (C), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, C Pujara, A Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Karan Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Ishant Sharma
BCCI has new top management. Well reputed Jagmohan Dalmiya has replaced controversial N. Srinivasan. The new President has started making fundamental changes in Indian Cricket administration. Three all-time greats Sachin, Rahul and Shourav may soon mastermind the Indian cricket team. Recently two other all-time greats SM Gavaskar and Wasim Akram warned India against taking Bangladesh lightly for the series through sending under strength squads. The BBCI selection committee headed by Sandeep Patil took no chances at all. The requests of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni for staying out of the series were not entertained. The full strength squads for ODI and Test are selected. These squads would play even against Australia or South Africa at this moment. It is very clear that selection committee has taken the Bangladesh performance against Pakistan very seriously. They cannot risk their reputation and are coming with the best weapons and arsenal.
Bangladesh also selected a preliminary 23-member squad and has started serious practising for the series. The tour will start with the lone test at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah from 10 June. All three ODIs will be held at Shere Bangla National Stadium Meerpoor.
The preliminary Bangladesh squad selected by the selection committee headed by Farukh Ahmed and comprising of Minhazul Abedin Nanno and Habibul Bashar Sumon is
Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury, Liton Kumar Das, Nasir Hossain, Anamul Haque, Sabbir Rahman, Taijul Islam, Arafat Sunny, Zubair Hossain, Mashrafee Bin Mortaza, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abul Hassan, Mohammed Sahid, Shafiul Islam and Rony Talukdar
On consideration of the international experience, fitness and recent form of players, few omissions from the preliminary squad have created strong resentments in cricket community. Consiering the very strong Indian batting line up omissions of Al Amin, Abdur Razzak and Sohag Gazi are being hotly debated. Razzak until recently used to be integral part of Bangladesh squad in ODI. The experienced left arm spinner is in great form in domestic cricket. Bangladesh even missed his bowling in World Cup. Razzak is a wicket taking bowler and very accurate. He can bowl early on with new ball and even at the death. Shohag Gazi is another quality off spinner who is especially effective against left handed batsmen is well proven. He could be handy in test if selected. Kohli, Rohit, Dhoni, Rahane, Rayadu and Raina are great players of spin bowling. If for any reason Shakib does not bowl well Bangladesh will be in serious problem with less experienced spin attack. India is bringing Harbhajan Singh especially to deal with several Bangladeshi left handed batsmen and his experience.
We feel not picking young Al Amin in the squad is a great injustice. He was developing into a very useful new ball bowler in all formats. The harsh action against him before Sri Lanka match of World Cup was based on flimsy ground. There was no official report from ICC Anti-Corruption unit. Few other important members of the team including the team Manger indulged in more controversial acts. Bangladesh is not doing justice to a budding talent. Inclusion of Al Amin in the pace battery could give Mashrafee and Mushfiqur greater flexibility. A player must not be subjected to individual likings and disliking. We have to test India with strong pace attack.
We are optimistic. We believe whatever be the composition of the playing squad Bangladesh will have impressive performance. But it will be extremely challenging. India is much better organized team than Pakistan. The likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Dhoni together and individually can bat Bangladesh out of the match if Bangladesh does not plan well, select the right playing eleven and execute the plan.
Tigers will have lot to prove to its million adoring fans as few felt Bangladesh was deprived at MCG .Indians will also be equally charged to stamp its authority. We would consider Bangladesh to have better opportunities in ODI. India is too strong a test team and even creating a contest against India against them would be a serious challenge.
ODI Preview:
Other than injured Mohammad Shami Indian squad is full strength which appeared in World Cup and Carlton Mid Triangular series in Australia. This writer has experience of watching most of their matches in different grounds of Australia. We found there is genuine weakness among some Indian top order batsmen against quality fast bowling. Bangladesh now possesses Taskin, Rubel and Mashrafee to exploit this. I would suggest including Mustafiz in ODI squad. He is left armer and moves the bowl at pace, Al Amin could be ideal against Dhawan, Raina and Rayudu. .Since India bats deep and has very high quality top and middle order batting would suggest to prepare sporting wickets as I do not consider that India has better pace attack than Pakistan. Mashrafee and his pace battery is equally good if not better. What Bangladesh has to do is bat carefully against quality Indian spinners like R. Ashwin, R Jadeja in ODI and against “Bhaji” Harbhajan Singh in test.
In our consideration ODI Sqaud of Bangladesh should be Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Soumya Sarkar Mahamudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Zubair Hossain, Mashrafee Bin Mortaza, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, and Rony Talukdar.
Bangladesh will find it difficult to choose one from Shabbir and Nasir for the final playing eleven. If Bangladesh choose to play at least three pacers and Zubayer they have choose Shabbir. We do not think Arafat Sunny will bring success against India though he bowled well against Pakistan. Rony Talukdar is there in any of the top order gets unfit and fail to strike form in first ODI he may be blooded as he was in prolific form off late in domestic circuit.
Test Cricket
As has been written above Indian batting is much stronger than Pakistan in tests and will definitely start as favorite. Though most players will be coming fresh from IPL shorter version but the professionals take no time to adjust. There are so many class players apart from Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinka Rahane the players those may impress are C Pujara and M Vijay. Bangladesh must choose horses for the courses for restricting Indians. An ultra-defensive mind set in test may prove counterproductive. There must be three pacers and two spinners in the squad. Bangladesh has to be competitive in the lone test. Even if we fail to draw the test we must go down fighting. Or otherwise it will definitely impact on ODI performance.
Our Recommended Squad for Test Would be Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahamudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Kumar Das, Nasir Hossain, Taijul Islam, Zubair Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Mohammed Sahid, Shafiul Islam.
We will recommend to Include Taskin Ahmed to play test and appear in 4-5 overs burst in every spell. If a young international player is fit to play ODI why he cannot play test .Taskin and Rubel bowling in tandem on a slightly pacey wicket can test Indian batting. With Mohammad Shahid doing bulk of the bowling Mushfiqur can use Taskin smartly without creating additional risks for him. For this situation in pace bowling we feel Bangladesh will miss Al Amin pretty badly. Liton may keep wickers giving Mushfiqur some relief as he has to bear the burden of batting longer innings.
We hope Bangladesh to compete well in test and definite go for winning the ODI series at whatever margin it might be. In rainy season matches may have rain interruptions and application of D/L method. But in any case ODI series will not be one-way traffic. Bangladesh can truly fathom its depth in quality international cricket in the series which the rest of the cricket world will eagerly watch.
BDST: 0810 HRS, MAY 21, 2015/UPDATE: 0900 HRS
HB
