Mosharraf set for second innings

When the national selectors announce the 14-member squad for the Afghanistan ODI series, the return of left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain may be the only surprise.

According to sources the selectors submitted the team to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for the board president's approval, although the selectors say that there is more discussion to be conducted. In the submitted list veteran left-arm spinner Mosharraf got a place and pacer Taskin Ahmed was also in the list though his bowling action is yet to be cleared. Board officials were still trying to know when they can receive the report from Australia.

In the domestic circuit Mosharraf is considered a utility cricketer because of his bowling and ability to bat in the late order. He came to the national side with a lot of promise in 2008 but till date has played only three ODIs. His progress was hindered by an ICL stint and the BPL match-fixing controversy but former Indian spinner Venkatapathy Raju's positive feedback during the recent HP training camp saw the 34-year old left-arm spinner recalled into the 20-member ODI Pool.

Taskin was the automatic choice when the selectors settled on picking four pacers, but the board is yet to ascertain when they will get the results of Taskin's bowling action review.

The sources confirmed that as per the new selection procedure the three selectors and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha met with the cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan, who is the convenor of the selection panel, to decide on the final squad before sending it to the board president.

National team manager Khaled Mahmud, who is also a member of the selection panel, was supposed to convey the opinions and desires of captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and vice-captain Shakib Al Hasan but the former national skipper is abroad.