Al-Amin courts trouble again

The national selectors are yet to decide upon who will travel to Australia and New Zealand with the team instead of the injured Mohammad Shahid. On December 3, the selectors will assess the fitness of three pace bowlers -- Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Rubel Hossain and Al-Amin Hossain -- who are in the stand-by list for the tours to determine the replacement of Shahid, who was ruled out of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League after injuring his right knee during Dhaka Dynamites' 32-run win against Comilla Victorians on Saturday.

Al-Amin Hossain may have been a good choice among the three pace bowlers but the right-arm paceman has just a slim chance of making the cut because of disciplinary issue. “He (Al-Amin Hossain) was not considered for selection on disciplinary grounds as a nasty incident happened during the Chittagong leg,” said a team insider on condition of anonymity.

Another official however said: “An allegation came against Al-Amin and I believe the board has to investigate the matter thoroughly so that he gets proper justice.”

Batsman Sabbir Rahman was also fined for a similar disciplinary breach, but the authorities chose to take a softer stance against him as it was his first offence.

When attention was drawn regarding Al-Amin's absence, Barisal Bulls captain Mushfiqur Rahim did not want to elaborate while talking to The Daily Star on his way back to the dressing room after attending the press conference yesterday but said: “I think he (Al-Amin Hossain) should have gotten another chance.”

The national team think-tank however has been annoyed with the discipline issue of this bowler, who has so far played just five international matches since being sent back home for the same reason from the last ICC World Cup in Australia.

“Shahid will not travel with the team for the preparation camp in Sydney but he has a chance to be fit again before the Test series in New Zealand but still we will pick a replacement by December 4. There are a few pacers in the stand-by list from where we will select someone after a fitness test to be held on December 3,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin yesterday.

Minhajul was optimistic about the fitness of young pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. “He is recovering well and we are very much hopeful. Mustafizur will travel with the team and we are optimistic that he will be fully recovered before the start of the series and if not, he may miss the ODIs. But one thing is sure -- we will not take slightest chance.”

The former national team skipper also said that there was hardly any chance to add any additional players to the squad as BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon had hinted a few days back.

The national selectors however have another issue to look at as left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny, along with off-spinner Shohag Gazi were once again reported for suspect bowling actions during the BPL. According to sources both Sunny -- who had been cleared to bowl in international cricket after his remedied action was found to be legal by the ICC in September this year -- and Gazi, who was also cleared in February 2015 after he remedied his action, were reported for the arm ball.

Sources also said that the national selectors will deliberate on whether they will take a chance on these two when preparing the national pool.

The high-flying Rangpur Riders have heavily relied on these two bowlers in the BPL so far as Sunny took 11 wickets in nine matches and Gazi took 10 wickets in as many matches. Their actions will be assessed by a bowling review committee after the end of the BPL.