DT e-Paper, Saturday, October 15, 2016

DT
24
Sport
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2016
TOP STORIES
‘Bangladesh Tests
will be challenging’
Gareth Batty, the 39-year old
England spinner is pleased with
the security arrangement provided
to the visitors and believes the two
Test matches will be a challenge
for them against the Tigers in their
home conditions. PAGE 25
Siddikur continues
to shine in Macau
Premier Bangladesh golfer
Siddikur Rahman continued to
shine in the Venetian Macao Open
as he carded four-under-par 67
in the second round yesterday to
rise to joint seventh position, tied
alongside three others. PAGE 26
Azhar lights
up D/N Test
Azhar Ali became the first batsman
to score a century in a day-night
Test off a pink ball as he helped
Pakistan dominate West Indies in
Dubai. Ali’s unbeaten 194 guided
his side to 279-1 after the opening
day of the first Test. PAGE 27
Messi returns as
Barca battle ‘virus’
Argentina’s pain is Barcelona’s
gain as Lionel Messi returns for
the Spanish champions when
Deportivo la Coruna visit the Camp
Nou today after being sidelined for
three weeks with a groin injury.
Messi recently returned to the
side. PAGE 28
Bangladesh batsman Mominul Haque bats during training while Test captain and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim looks
on in Chittagong yesterday
MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK
Taskin in line for Test call-up
• Ali Shahriyar Bappa
from Chittagong
Bangladesh fast bowling sensation
Taskin Ahmed has been
included in the second and final
two-day practice match against
England which begins at MA Aziz
Stadium in Chittagong tomorrow.
Taskin was recently cleared by
the International Cricket Council
and displayed impressive performances
against Afghanistan and
England in the ODIs.
The time has now come for
Taskin to prove himself in the
longer format of the game.
Taskin played his last
longer-version game in 2013 for
Walton Central Zone. Since then,
he has been struggling with his
fitness and as a result, was not
considered for four-day matches
in the next three years.
Now he is fit and bowling with
real pace and the Tigers thinktank
is considering giving him a
chance to cement his place in the
Test squad.
“Taskin was unfit in the last
few years for the longer version of
the game. That’s why he was not
considered. But now he is fit and
after consulting with the team
physio (Baizidul Islam), we have
decided to give Taskin a chance
in the two-day match,” national
team selector Habibul Bashar
said.
The Test squad for the twomatch
England series will be
announced tomorrow. Pacer Mohammad
Shahid, who was a regular
fixture in the last few matches,
has been injured for the last few
months and is still recovering
from a side-strain injury. The other
available options from the recent
ODI squads are Al Amin Hossian,
Rubel Hossain and Shafiul
Islam.
Al-Amin and Rubel are not
in their best rhythm and Shafiul
played the last of his eight Tests
three years ago. Pace sensation
Mustafizur Rahman is still recovering
from his lengthy lay off and
expected to be fit in late December.
So there is a high chance of
giving Taskin his much awaited
Test cap.
While in the spin department,
Taijul Islam is the obvious choice.
Ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan
will lead the attack.
In the batting line-up, Tamim
Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul
Haque, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur
Rahim and Shakib are likely to get
the nod. The No 7 spot will be up
for grabs. Shuvagata Hom can be
an option as he has been playing
as an all rounder in that position
in the last few matches. Youngster
Mosaddek Hossain is also vying
for the same spot.
The team management is
also considering wicketkeeper-batsman
Nurul Hasan as an
alternative. If Bangladesh play a
specialist stumper then skipper
Mushfiq’s burden will lessen as
he is one of the main batsman of
the side. •
Soumya ready
for captaincy
challenge
• Ali Shahriyar Bappa
from Chittagong
Left-handed opening batsman
Soumya Sarkar has been elected
captain for the second and final twoday
practice match against England,
scheduled to start tomorrow.
And on the eve of the warm-up
game, Soumya vowed to come back
to scoring touch soon. The southpaw
also expressed confidence that
the role of captaincy will not hamper
his focus on batting.
“I am working hard on my batting.
Every player faces some bad
patch during his career. It came
early in my career. But I think if I
can overcome this situation soon,
then it could be beneficial for me.
I could learn a lot of things during
this period of hardship and I
believe it will help me in the long
run,” Soumya told the media at MA
Aziz Stadium in Chittagong after
practice yesterday.
“Obviously, it’s a great feeling to
captain the side. I think I will enjoy
the new role. I have to lead from
the front and also guide my team
mates. There was always a dream
of becoming captain in my mind.
Now I got the chance and I want to
prove myself. I believe I will enjoy
my time as captain,” said Soumya.
Soumya was dropped from the
playing XI in the just-concluded
England ODI series and in his place,
opener Imrul Kayes played brilliantly.
Soumya admitted it will be
a challenging task to get back in the
squad but said he is ready to take
up the challenge.
“Actually, the total national team
is a challenge in itself. You have to
play really well to hold onto your
spot in the team. I think every match
is a challenge for me when I play for
my country. Because there are many
talented openers out there who are
playing well. Generally I challenge
myself to do better than the previous
match. That’s how I prepared
myself for the game,” he said.
“I will try to start from the beginning.
I will play my natural
game in the practice match and
hope I will be able to bat just like I
did when I started my international
career,” he added.
Soumya played the last of his
three Tests against India last year.
Squad for second practice match
Soumya Sarkar (C), Abdul Majid,
Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Tanbir
Haydar Khan, Mosaddek Hossain,
Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Nurul Hasan,
Al Amin Hossain, Abu Haider Rony,
Shubashish Roy, Ebadat Hossain
and Shadman Islam. •