DHAKA, July 6, 2019 (BSS) – Test specialist Mominul Hague is set to lead BCB XI in the upcoming The Dr. (Capt) K. Thimmappaiah Memorial multi-day All India Cricket, a tournament organized by Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), touted as Mini Ranji Trophy.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced 15-member squad for the tournament, scheduled to start from July 10.
Several major Test cricketers are included in the squad for the four-day match tournament as it is expected to be a preparation platform for the upcoming two-match Test series against India, scheduled next November.
“We have selected the team keeping the Test series against India in mind and if you see most of them are either Test regulars or touted to be the next crop of players for the longer version,” national selector Habibual Bashar Sumon said here today.
Bashar added that he would like to see boys play positive brand of cricket as it will help them have more confidence under their belly when they take on India for the Test series that will be followed by three-match Twenty20 series as well.
Though BCB had two first-class competition in their calendar there is large scale allegation that it lacks competitiveness.
”I would like to see them play with a positive mindset because there is no point playing negative cricket just because it is longer-version cricket,” said Bashar.
“We are aware that there are some good teams playing in the tournament but we have to prove our worth against them to prove that we are on the right path as far longer-format cricket is concerned,” he said.
With 16 team’s participation, BCB Eleven will be fighting from group B along with KSCS Secretary Eleven, Vidarbha Cricket Association and Dr D Y Patil Cricket Academy.
A total of 16 teams are in the fray from various affiliated units of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. As has been the practice, like last season, they have been divided into four zones of four teams each. The zone toppers will enter the semi-finals.
The winner of zones A and D will clash in one semi-final while the winners of zones B and C will take on one another in the other last four clashes.
The final is billed from August 3 to 6, 2019 and will be played at the KSCA Turf at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
But then this year is a bit different compared to the previous edition. A foreign team has been cleared to participate in the tournament. Consequently, a Bangladesh XI will be seen in action.
The fine performance of players from Bangladesh in the ongoing 50-overs World Cup is now well known. Opportunities to play in four-day matches in such tournaments that the KSCA has visualised and conducted over the years will provide them a platform.
It will be a showcase to show their talents with the requirements of Test cricket in mind, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) said in a press release.
BCB XI:
Mominul Haque (c), Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed Rahi, Taijul Islam, Nazmul Hasan Shanto, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadat Hossain, Rabiul Haque, Jahurul Islam, Sadman Islam, Ariful Haque, Yasir Ali, Saif Hasan, Nurul Hasan Sohan and Shahidul Islam.