e_Paper, Sunday, August 20, 2017

AUSTRALIA TOUR OF BANGLADESH
Sports
Mahmudullah, Mominul
dropped as Nasir returns
• Ali Shahriyar Bappa
All-rounder Mahmudullah and
left-handed batsman Mominul
Haque have been dropped from
the 14-member Bangladesh squad
for the first Test match against
Australia, starting in Mirpur from
August 27.
National selectors Minhajul Abedin
and Habibul Bashar announced
the squad at the media centre of
the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket
Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha,
who is a member of national
selection committee, was also
present at the press meet.
Five changes have been made
to the squad from their last Test
against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Alongside Mominul and
Mahmudullah, pacers Subashish
Roy, Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Rubel
Hossain have also been axed from
the side.
Mominul’s exclusion was a surprise
call as he is regarded as one of
the best Bangladesh Test batsmen
over the past few years.
Mominul’s recent form however,
has gone a bit downward,
compared to the blistering start he
made in his Test career.
With that said, being dropped
from the side in a home series is
probably a bit harsh for the top-order
batsman.
“Mahmudullah’s exclusion was
expected as he was not in the last
Test and we are playing back-toback
series. And as for Mominul,
he has been dropped due to his
off-form. From January-August he
has played six Test innings where
he scored one half-century. That’s
why he has been dropped. But he
is in contention,” said chief selector
Minhajul to the media.
Three cricketers returned to the
Test squad in the form of left-handed
batsman Imrul Kayes, all-rounder
Nasir Hossain and paceman
Shafiul Islam.
“Imrul and Soumya Sarkar are
playing well in Mominul’s position
at the batting order recently.
Soumya scored four centuries in his
Chief selector Minhajul Abedin addresses the media yesterday in Mirpur alongside
selector Habibul Bashar and coach Chandika Hathurusingha
RAJIB DHAR
1ST TEST SQUAD
Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul
Kayes, Liton Das, Shakib al Hasan,
Mosaddek Hossain, Nasir Hossain,
Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman,
Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Shafiul Islam,
Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
and Taskin Ahmed
last eight innings with an average of
45.75. And Imrul has an impressive
record on home soil. Hence, Mominul
had to go down as preference.
But that does not mean Mominul’s
career is over. Soumya scored lots
of runs recently and we are planning
to send Imrul as the No 3 batsman.
That’s why Mominul has been
dropped,” Minhajul informed.
Mahmudullah’s exclusion from
the squad was predictable as he
was not in the playing XI in Bangladesh’s
last Test.
He was excluded ahead of Bangladesh’s
100th Test back in March
in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The experienced right hander
played brilliantly in the shorter formats
since then, scoring a magnificent
century against New Zealand
in the Champions Trophy.
The chief selector however, informed
that good form in ODIs was
not considered for Tests.
“We are not counting ODI form
for Tests. We are considering three
formats differently. The decision has
been taken after judging the overall
situation,” Minhajul explained.
All-rounder Nasir Hossain returned
to the side after playing the
last of his 17 Tests against South Africa
in 2015.
He has been in terrific form in
the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket
League this year and eventually
earned a Test recall.
The chief selector stated that
the right-handed batsman and
off-spinner has been included due
to his additional off-spin ability.
“We have counted Nasir slightly
differently. Australia have plenty of
left-handers in their batting lineup.
We were looking for a player
who can bat well and also have
good off-spinning ability, just like
Shuvagata [Hom] in the England
series. Hence Nasir has been chosen,”
said Minhajul.
Shafiul has been called up to the
Test format after his impressive performance
in the practice match. •
19
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2017
DT
Hathurusingha:
Bangladesh not
about Mominul only
• Ali Shahriyar Bappa
Mominul Haque’s exclusion from
the Bangladesh Test squad against
Australia created buzz all around
as the left-hander has often been
considered as one of the best Tigers
batsmen in Tests in the last
few years.
The question in everyone’s mind
was why Mominul was dropped.
The national selection panel
had to answer a series of questions
regarding Mominul in the press
conference during the squad declaration.
Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha
is also part of the selection
panel.
The coach thinks consistency is
the only factor behind Mominul’s
exclusion.
“He was very good at the beginning.
But now, not scoring runs is
the only problem for Mominul. I
think Mominul is doing everything
possible to get back in the team. He
has scored good runs in the practice
match. But unfortunately, the
guys in the team are scoring runs
as well,” Hathurusingha told the
media.
“So Bangladesh is not about
Mominul only. It’s about 11 players
trying to win a game. We are not
marginalising any player. I said before
that everyone have been treated
fairly. But you are concerning
about one or two players. We have
given everybody a fare chance, and
it will happen in future.
“Selection is done by consistency.
Some of the guys were dropped
for our last Test. I won’t mention
name because the team is more important.
Consistent selection gives
a lot of confidence to players who
perform. We have reason to make
good calls because we have been
consistent on selection.
“The guys who played in the
last game after losing the first Test
(in Galle) came back and did well.
Although the other guys are doing
well in limited-overs cricket, unfortunately
they have to wait for
their time. Good thing is we are in
a rich vein of form in the last few
series. Players who got dropped -
they have to wait.
“As a coach, you have
responsibility. But the player also
knows what he has to do. They are
working very hard on it. Somebody
has to go out of the team when
they are not performing,” he
added.
During the England Test
series last year, it was learnt
that Soumya Sarkar was in the
squad as the team management
thought including the left-hander
might help him to maintain his
confidence, despite being in a
poor run of batting form.
As for Mominul, when asked if
the same process is being followed
or not, Hathurusingha informed
that the fairness factor has been
applied for every player.
“Those players who are not
in the squad, are still practising.
Confidence comes when we communicate
with the player. There is
no rule but fairness is applied for
everybody. I don’t think we have
any preference for any player.
What we are trying to get is pulling
the best out of the player, who are
in form or who got opportunity to
play,” he said.
“Creating pressure is not for
only this team. It’s for about the
whole cricket of Bangladesh. If
players are fighting for places, then
I think our team is getting better.
Because there is competition for
places.
“I want 11 players in the playing
XI performing. My priority is not
the individual player. My priority
is the national team of Bangladesh
and try to win matches for them,”
he explained.
Hathurusingha also admitted
that he is confident Bangladesh
will do well in the upcoming series
if the players can play according to
their potential.
“We are very confident. We respect
every team. But we never
fear any team. We are confident
that our team will play good cricket
against Australia,” he concluded. •