Bangladesh selectors ponder opening, spin slots

Opening batsmen and a pair of spinners are the major discussion points ahead of the selection of Bangladesh's ODI team for the three-match series against Pakistan beginning on April 17.

The national selectors are expected to submit the 14-man squad to the BCB for approval within the next couple of days.

Until his shoulder injury during the World Cup, Anamul Haque was part of Bangladesh's first-choice opening partnership with Tamim Iqbal.

He had to undergo surgery on March 13 after he fell awkwardly on his right shoulder while fielding against Scotland on March 5.

According to recent reports, he is unlikely to be match-fit before April 23 although he has started to bat in the nets in Mirpur from this week.

Chief selector Faruque Ahmed has said that they are happy with the progress of Anamul's recovery. He also informed that they would not select an extra bowler as cover for captain Mashrafe Mortaza who will miss the first ODI due to his one-match suspension.

"He [Anamul] is recovering well but lacks match practice," Faruque said. "We will select a 14-man squad so Mashrafe will be part of it. He will miss the first ODI due to suspension but we will not be replacing him in the squad."

Anamul's replacement, Imrul Kayes, made only nine runs in three World Cup innings. The selectors have some options from among this season's domestic competitions.

Openers Litton Das and Rony Talukdar have been prolific scorers in the first-class National Cricket League and the one-day Dhaka Premier League.

Das, who opened for champions Rangpur Division, was the NCL's highest run-scorer, making 1,024 runs at an average of 85.33 with five hundreds. He was also the second-highest scorer in the DPL behind Talukdar, who made 714 at 51 with two centuries.

Talukdar also made 777 runs in the NCL at 70.63 with three centuries. However, both batsmen are uncapped and it would also be difficult to count out Imrul or Shamsur Rahman, who have international experience on their side.

The second frontline spinner's position will also cause some debate. Arafat Sunny and Taijul Islam played only one match each in the World Cup but in Bangladeshi conditions, a second spinner is usually picked.

Whether the two left-arm spinners will continue to be in the squad or legspinner Jubair Hossain will get a call-up is another question that the selectors will be answering.

Jubair made an impressive debut against Zimbabwe last year but did not do enough to be picked in the World Cup squad. He took 16 wickets in five NCL matches, while the two highest wicket-takers in the competition, Elias Sunny and Abdur Razzak, took 42 and 41.

Jubair has played a single List-A game, for Abahani, since the Zimbabwe series. Before and after the World Cup campaign, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha has said that he would have preferred the legspinner Jubair instead of the two left-arm spinners.

The selectors would also have to pick between Shafiul Islam and Al-Amin Hossain, who was sent home mid-way from the World Cup for disciplinary issues.

There could also be questions about Mominul Haque's place after his two failures in the World Cup resulted in him carrying drinks for much of the tournament.

Mominul has been shifted around the batting order in ODIs in his last seven innings, and Hathurusingha said after the World Cup that since Soumya Sarkar has done well at No. 3, Mominul would have to wait for his chance in the limited-overs side.

Bangladesh take on Pakistan in the first ODI on April 17, and the next two are on April 19 and 22. All three matches will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.