SPORTS EDGE

Sports
Cricket
Shakib back for Tigers
Sports Reporter
SHAKIB AL HASAN Mushfiqur Rahim was left out from the 15-member squad for the upcoming tour of Australia after the wicketkeeper became the only player out of four to have failed a fitness test for the three-match series.Vice-captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, batsman Alok Kapali and paceman Nazmul Hossain were all declared fit to be drafted in the squad which will fly for Australia in the early hours of August 14 to play five practice games before playing the three-match series against the world's number one team in Darwin.Chief selector Rafiqul Alam declared the team yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur bringing in three changes from the last squad that played the Asia Cup in Pakistan in June-July."We took some more time to declare the team because of injury problems. All of them recovered from the injuries except Mushfiq who hardly had any problem while keeping and batting but was uncomfortable when throwing the ball," said Rafiq."We can't take any risk when we have to carry one wicketkeeper. Dhiman (Ghosh) was recalled as his performance in the five-match one-day series in Pakistan in April was not too good or too bad but his performance in England with the A team was quite impressive," he explained the reason behind inclusion of Dhiman, who scored 94 runs in 11 ODIs.All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan returned, as expected, to the fold after opting out in the last two tournaments due to his academic commitments. Left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain was dropped to pave the way for the left-handed middle order batsman who doubles as a handy left-arm spinner.The axe also fell on opener Nazimuddin who got the chance to play all the matches in the Asia Cup but failed to deliver and in his place the selectors brought back Nazmul, considering the conditions in Darwin."We picked up five pace bowlers as the weather is always hot in Darwin although the humidity is not like here and we expect bouncy pitches there. On the other hand, we have five practice games and some practice sessions before the series."We are struggling with the opening pair. Nazimuddin got enough chance but he was not up to the mark and most importantly Mehrab (Hossain) looked impressive against the new ball and that's why we considered him as the third opener. Shahriar Nafees kept his place because of his good record and especially his previous performance against Australia has been good," said Rafiq.The former national player said that their main target would be to close the gap against the world champions during the three-match series. Captain Mohammad Ashraful, who was present in the press conference along with coach Jamie Siddons, said that their focus is to be competitive in the series."My opinion is that we fought against the top ranked sides in the last two tournaments and there were signs of improvement in our performances. We want to play good cricket and push the world's best team," hoped Ashraful.But coach Siddons, the former assistant coach of the Australia team, however believe that his team need some assistance from the pitch to push them."It can be a tough tour for us because they are the number one team and we are ninth," said Siddons. "My team can be competitive if the wickets suit us," said Siddons, who ensured that his focus would only be on his boys not in any other things like his legal battle with Cricket Australia (CA).SQUADMohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (vice-captain), Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Rokibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Alok Kapali, Dhiman Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah Riyad, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Forhad Reza, Mehrab Hossain, Nazmul Hossain and Dollar Mahmud.
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
-->
Print Friendly Version
Sports
Cricket
Shakib back for Tigers
Sports Reporter
SHAKIB AL HASAN Mushfiqur Rahim was left out from the 15-member squad for the upcoming tour of Australia after the wicketkeeper became the only player out of four to have failed a fitness test for the three-match series.Vice-captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, batsman Alok Kapali and paceman Nazmul Hossain were all declared fit to be drafted in the squad which will fly for Australia in the early hours of August 14 to play five practice games before playing the three-match series against the world's number one team in Darwin.Chief selector Rafiqul Alam declared the team yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur bringing in three changes from the last squad that played the Asia Cup in Pakistan in June-July."We took some more time to declare the team because of injury problems. All of them recovered from the injuries except Mushfiq who hardly had any problem while keeping and batting but was uncomfortable when throwing the ball," said Rafiq."We can't take any risk when we have to carry one wicketkeeper. Dhiman (Ghosh) was recalled as his performance in the five-match one-day series in Pakistan in April was not too good or too bad but his performance in England with the A team was quite impressive," he explained the reason behind inclusion of Dhiman, who scored 94 runs in 11 ODIs.All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan returned, as expected, to the fold after opting out in the last two tournaments due to his academic commitments. Left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain was dropped to pave the way for the left-handed middle order batsman who doubles as a handy left-arm spinner.The axe also fell on opener Nazimuddin who got the chance to play all the matches in the Asia Cup but failed to deliver and in his place the selectors brought back Nazmul, considering the conditions in Darwin."We picked up five pace bowlers as the weather is always hot in Darwin although the humidity is not like here and we expect bouncy pitches there. On the other hand, we have five practice games and some practice sessions before the series."We are struggling with the opening pair. Nazimuddin got enough chance but he was not up to the mark and most importantly Mehrab (Hossain) looked impressive against the new ball and that's why we considered him as the third opener. Shahriar Nafees kept his place because of his good record and especially his previous performance against Australia has been good," said Rafiq.The former national player said that their main target would be to close the gap against the world champions during the three-match series. Captain Mohammad Ashraful, who was present in the press conference along with coach Jamie Siddons, said that their focus is to be competitive in the series."My opinion is that we fought against the top ranked sides in the last two tournaments and there were signs of improvement in our performances. We want to play good cricket and push the world's best team," hoped Ashraful.But coach Siddons, the former assistant coach of the Australia team, however believe that his team need some assistance from the pitch to push them."It can be a tough tour for us because they are the number one team and we are ninth," said Siddons. "My team can be competitive if the wickets suit us," said Siddons, who ensured that his focus would only be on his boys not in any other things like his legal battle with Cricket Australia (CA).SQUADMohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (vice-captain), Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Rokibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Alok Kapali, Dhiman Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah Riyad, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Forhad Reza, Mehrab Hossain, Nazmul Hossain and Dollar Mahmud.
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
-->