Mominul one of our best: Shakib

Premier Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan joins the growing list of high-profile voices who have been criticising the axing of Mominul Haque from Bangladesh's first Test squad against Australia.

"Mominul is one of the best cricketers in our team. His absence [from the squad for the first Test] will certainly put us on the back-foot mentally to some extent," Shakib told reporters at his restaurant in the capital today.

He also said: "If the coaching staff or the selectors deem it the best team then this is the best team and our goal will be to play and win. There will be difference of opinions but at the end of the day everyone wants Bangladesh to do well and win."  

The selectors on Saturday named a 14-member team for the opening match of the two-Test series, where top-order batsman Mominul was ignored. The decision of the selectors sparked uproar and it was understood during a noisy press briefing that it was a call made by Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who is also a key member of the selection panel.

The Sri Lankan mentor of the Tigers however defended the decision saying that the player has not been performing for the last one year. Mominul, the proud owner of 12 consecutive half centuries is someone who holds the highest average among the Bangladesh players, however he failed to score a fifty in his last six innings.

But the biggest criticism about Mominul's exclusion was that the diminutive left-hander did not get enough chance to return to form. For someone bracketed as a Test player, Mominul has played only six games in a year. He did not score in the opening Test at Galle -- a game where the team collapsed collectively. His average of about 60 at home could have been handy against a top team like Australia. Besides, his replacement at the number three spot also evoked criticism. If everything goes according to plan Imrul Kayes will bat at number three, but he is a genuine opening batsman and the change of batting order for the last couple of games was done so that Soumya Sarker could open the innings with Tamim Iqbal. Mominul is the only recognized one-down batsman in the team and many feel he should only be replaced with a proper one-down batsman.