Meaningful shuffle or change for change’s sake?

The Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) revamp of the T20 side following the World Cup debacle in UAE involved quite a few changes, with the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim along with openers Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar making way for relatively new faces.

A total of six changes were made to the side that played the T20 World Cup, with Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin still recovering from injuries suffered at the World Cup.

The shake-up involved calling up players such as Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain and Aminul Islam, who have mostly featured irregularly in the national team over the past few years. Batsman Yasir Ali, pacer Shahidul Islam and wicketkeeper-batter and U-19 World Cup-winner Akbar Ali and Saif were called up for their debut T20 series.

Rumours had been bubbling over the past week that Mushfiqur may not feature in the Pakistan T20 series and the veteran of 99 T20Is was left out of the squad yesterday with selectors feeling the need to rebuild the side for the format.

"There are a number of changes from the World Cup squad. We've made six changes. We finished a World Cup of disappointment. This is a new journey," chief selector Minhajul Abedin reflected.

He clarified that Mushfiqur did not ask to be rested but that the upcoming Test assignments were factored in to leave Mushfiqur out of the Pakistan T20Is.

"I have talked to the management about Mushfiqur. We have four consecutive Tests. The Test Championship will start with the Pakistan series. It will be immediately followed by a Test series in New Zealand. Mushfiqur is one of our best and most important cricketers. Senior cricketers like Tamim have an injury and there are doubts over his participation in the Test series. We want Mushfiqur to give his best. That's why we rested him in the T20 series."

"Mushfiqur didn't ask to be rested," he reiterated even as doubts remain whether the revamp includes removing veteran stars from the T20 lineup or whether Mushfiqur's exclusion came due to other factors.Whether performance was an issue the selection of the side could not be ascertained straightaway.

The likes of Afif Hossain and Nurul Hasan did not capitalise on chances at the World Cup but have been named for the T20 series while the new faces such as Saif Hassan -- initially earmarked as a Test opener -- come into the side without having performed significantly.

The changes leave a lot of questions and chief selector Minhajul's answer regarding the thought process left a lot to be desired."We all know there have been disappointing performances in the World Cup. We have to see some new players if we want to go towards a new path. This format is the place to bring quick changes. So let's see the new players. Hopefully, those we have taken are fully prepared for the international arena. They have been training with the HP team. We are also optimistic that they will do well."

Asked whether the likes of Liton and Soumya will remain in consideration, Minhajul hinted that everyone would be under a 'system'."We have BPL and domestic cricket upcoming. Everyone will perform. No one will go unnoticed. You have to keep an eye on those who are outside, you have to keep an eye on the system. After the national team, the 'A' team programme is going on, then there is HP. Wherever a player is needed, he will be kept over there and prepared," he said.

A culture of a lack of accountability has prevailed in Bangladesh cricket for a long time. It remains to be seen whether the current thought process can bring sustainability in the T20 format and provide a new bunch of promising performers or whether players keep circling back into the side like they have done in the past due to change for change's sake.