Dhaka: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selection panel chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu believes that Nurul Hasan Sohan and Saif Hasan forced their way back to the T20 squad by showing measured performances over the years. Gazi Ashraf-led selection panel announced the Bangladesh T20 squad for the upcoming Netherlands series against Asia Cup yesterday night with little surprise.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mehidy Hasan Miraz was not included for the Netherlands series but was kept standby for the Asia Cup, largely due to his family reasons. Speaking to the media today in a jam-packed press conference at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Ashraf said, “Unfortunately, we do not have many challenges or performers in case of like-to-like replacements.”
Ashraf emphasized their confidence in Sohan’s approach and pattern of play, particularly in the No. 5 or 6 position. Sohan last played a T20 for the national team almost three years ago, while Saif Hasan also did not get a place after the 2023 Asian Games. Naim Sheikh, who was in the last T20 squad, was left out.
Both Sohan and Saif are currently on a tour of Australia with the Bangladesh ‘A’ team to play in the Top End T20 series. Sohan has scored 110 runs at a strike rate of 117.20 in the first five matches of the tournament. Earlier, he scored 182 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 138.93 for Rangpur Riders in the last BPL and 65 runs in five matches in the Global Super League (GSL) in July.
Saif Hasan also played alongside Sohan in the last BPL, scoring 306 runs in 13 matches, and followed it up with 84 runs in four matches in the GSL. In the Top End T20Is, Saif scored 132 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 121.10. He was kept in the team as a backup option, said Ashraf, citing Saif as a flexible option in the batting order.
Ashraf explained that Saif can bowl one or two overs, bat at No.3 or 4, and serve as a ready opener if needed. Saif has 11 wickets with his off spin in 75 recognized T20 matches and is also a handy bowling option in domestic first-class cricket and List ‘A’.
Opener Naim Sheikh was brought back to the squad in July for the series against Sri Lanka but struggled to perform, scoring 32 runs off 29 balls, which drew criticism. He got two more chances against Pakistan but failed to justify his selection with scores of 10 off 3 and 10 off 19.
The chief selector explained the decision to drop Naim, highlighting the need to consider various factors before dropping someone from the team. The selectors were disappointed with Naim’s performance, and Ashraf noted that Naim now knows he has to improve to regain his place.
Bangladesh is set to play in Group B against Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong in the Asia Cup starting on September 9, preceded by a three-match T20 series against the Netherlands in Sylhet.