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CRICKET-PAPON
BCB boss hints Taskin’s inclusion in Tigers’ World Cup squad
DHAKA, May 11, 2019 (BSS)- Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president
Nazmul Hasan Papon gave fast bowler Taskin Ahmed a glimmer of hope by hinting
that the fast bowler could be drafted into the World Cup squad, but an
official decision is yet to be made.
Taskin, who is currently touring with the national team for the tri-
national series in Ireland has just returned from an injury, picked up early
in the year during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
The right-arm pacer had shown excellent form during the premier T20
tournament in the country where he was among the top wicket-takers. He had
shown glimpses of his best form and that gave him a recall into the national
Test team setup for the tour of New Zealand in February-March before the
injury sidelined him.
The 24-year-old later returned during the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) but
was still not back to full fitness and as a result he missed out on the 15-
man squad announced for the World Cup at England in June.
Taskin was very emotional and distraught on missing out on the World Cup
squad as pacer Abu Jayed Rahi got the call-up. The BCB chief, however,
admitted that team and management are keeping a close eye on him ahead of the
big tournament.
“To bring the variations in pace bowling department, Taskin was included
into the side. He is tall and has the pace and therefore the team management
wants him in the World Cup squad. Because being tall and pacy he has the
advantage to unsettle the batsmen with bouncer,” Nazmul Hasan Papon said on
Saturday while talking to the reporters.
“Apart from Rubel Hossain, the other pacers in the side at the moment in
World Cup squad-Mustafizur, Mashrafe, Rahi and Saifuddin-aren’t bowlers with
good pace. That’s why coach and captain want Taskin in the squad.”
“Team management wants Taskin to include in World Cup squad right now
but we want to take time. We’ll see the tri-series. Neither Taskin, nor Rahi
played any match in tri-series. Taskin took three wickets in practice match
but couldn’t give his 100 percent. There is a five-day camp in Leicestershire
after the tri-series. There we’ll will get the opportunity to see Taskin and
Rahi after which we’ll take decision because we can modify the team till May
23.”
Taskin played in the only warm-up match of ahead of the tri-nation series
where he picked up 3-66 against the Ireland A team. Nazmul expects that
Taskin will get a few opportunities to perform for the national team in the
tri-nation series. His selection for the World Cup will depend on his fitness
levels during this series.
“Probably, he will play in one or two games in the tri-nation and if he
can show his full fitness then we will consider him for the World Cup,”
Nazmul added.
According to sources, pacer Abu Jayed Rahi might have to make way for
Taskin in the World Cup squad as Rahi himself has been struggling with
injuries and is an uncertainty for the big tournament.
Meanwhile, the BCB president also said Bangladesh will tour Sri Lanka
only after getting the security clearance.
According to latest Future Tour Programme (FTP), Bangladesh are
scheduled to play three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in December. But
the dates were brought forward in July just after the completion of the World
Cup because of BCB’s plan to hold the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in
December.
The new dates for the three ODIs are likely to be on July 25, 27 and 29.
However a serial blast in Sri Lanka that left 300 people dead in the
last month forced BCB to rethink about the decision to tour there. A Pakistan
Under-19 tour had already been indefinitely postponed following the incident.
Bangladesh itself postponed New Zealand tour after a terrorist attack on
two Christchurch mosques.
BSS/SMP/RY/19:20 hrs