Search for opening slot options continues

Bangladesh sent in as many as six openers along with Soumya Sarkar to the Emerging Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, hoping to gauge the cricketers' performance for the backup opener slot in the national team. Whether the team management achieved what they were looking for is a big question following the team's defeat to India A in the semifinals.

As the uncertainty regarding Tamim Iqbal's return to the national team lingers on, the discussion regarding the backup opener slot looks set to gain more prominence.

National team opener Mohammad Naim, the backup opener before Tamim's retirement saga, played two rather unconvincing innings in the two ODIs against Afghanistan in Chattogram, returning figures of 0 and 9, which means the team management might have to keep looking for the solution to Liton Das's opening partner.

Naim, along with Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Zakir Hasan, Saif Hassan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Parvez Hossain Emon, had been taken to the Emerging Asia Cup while Soumya was included as a batting all-rounder down the order.

With three fifties in the tournament, Tanzid was the most convincing amongst those openers, showing a very positive approach. He scored 179 runs in four games at an average of over 44. Mahmudul Hasan Joy struck a hundred against Afghanistan A with the team losing early wickets and his tournament tally of 131 runs in three innings suggest that he may be one for the future but an ODI call-up is still an unlikely scenario.

Naim had appeared in the opening slot alongside Tanzid and scored 125 runs at an average of just over 41. Despite Soumya and Sheikh Mahedi's performances, it remains to be seen whether the team management would have enough confidence on them performing in the number seven role in the national side.

Meanwhile, the murky situation regarding Tamim's return continued further. According to media reports, a surgery may put Tamim's World Cup participation in doubt given the recovery period. BCB president Nazmul Hassan was asked yesterday regarding the situation.

"Tamim is our captain for the World Cup and if he returns, he will be doing that but if he doesn't, someone else will. We are not certain which matches he will be able to play and which he may not. We want him to recuperate and return soon," Nazmul told reporters.

Despite the Emerging side being built on putting out combinations to cater to the need of the national side, it remains to be seen whether the idea will eventually bear fruit.