DT
26 Sport
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015
Mahmudullah, Anamul return for ODIs Mominul, Rony, Taskin left out of 14-man Bangladesh squad The selectors continued to overlook Moagainst Scotland on March 5, returned to the n Mazhar Uddin minul Haque’s talent for the 50-over format side after four months on the back of a centuMahmudullah and Anamul Haque returned to Tigers fold for the three-match one-day international series against visitors South Africa. The batting duo were named alongside leg-spinner Jubair Hossain in the Bangladesh 14-member squad for the first two matches as Mominul Haque, Rony Talukdar and injured Taskin Ahmed were left out. Anamul, who had to undergo a surgery on his right shoulder after injuring himself during Bangladesh’s World Cup encounter
ry and three fifties in the Bangladesh Cricket League recently. Meanwhile, first choice Mahmudullah recovered from the fractured left index finger that he suffered ahead of the India series last month and has been included as soon as the physio gave the green signal. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed has not fully recovered from the side strain he picked in the middle of the one-day series against India couple weeks ago as Jubair was included to strengthen the spin department.
while Rony’s exclusion is justifiable, although he might consider himself unlucky. After waiting in the side lines for two series Rony, who is an opening batsman by nature, made his international debut through the T20I yesterday and scored 21 off 22 balls batting at No 7. Chief selector Faruk Ahmed justified Anamul’s inclusion saying, “He (Anamul) had a discussion with the captain regarding his batting approach and I think if we don’t give him the opportunity how would we know about
SQUAD Mashrafe bin Mortaza (C), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Liton Das, Jubair Hossain, Anamul Haque, Mahmudullah the changes. I think he is in good form and he is considered to bat in the top order.” However, Faruk also hinted Rony’s comeback in the side for the third ODI in Chittagong on July 15.l
TALKING POINTS Rony finally makes his international debut
Rony Talukdar had to wait for a long time to taste international cricket as the 24-year old, who was named in the Tigers ODI squad against Pakistan in April, warmed the bench for two consecutive series before finally getting a place in the XI against South Africa in the second T20I yesterday. Rony’s decent debut saw him score 21 off 22 balls, the second highest among the Tigers in their 138.
Sarkar’s exciting 30s a concern
Soumya Sarkar continued to provide electrifying starts for the Tigers but his consistency in failing to convert the starts is now a concern. In pursuit of 170, the 22-year old’s majestic strokes were turning out to be a headache for South Africa but he charged one too many to perish on 37 off 21 balls with six fours and a six.
Long way to go in Twenty20
Twenty20 might be the shortest format in cricket, but most certainly not the easiest to play. Despite the huge transformation in the ODI, Bangladesh are still finding it difficult to adopt to T20. The home side did threaten to damage the Proteas reputation in the format on several occasions during the two-match series, but a lack of application only made sure South Africa’s experience outplay the Bangladeshis who have only won 12 games out of 44 played.l
Bangladesh Twenty20 skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza’s stumps are uprooted by South African paceman Kyle Abbott (unseen) during the second and final T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK
Mashrafe blames poor shot selection n Mazhar Uddin
South African cricketers Hashim Amla and Ryan McClaren are seen during the second and final Twenty20 international against Bangladesh at SBNS yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
Mashrafe bin Mortaza rued their batting faults as Bangladesh lost the two-match Twenty20 series 2-0 against South Africa yesterday. Bangladesh, who have risen as a oneday international unit, failed to grab the pace of the T20 format as on both the matches the batsmen failed to make an impression and continue the good work done by the bowlers. After electing to bat first, the visitors were 95 without a loss in 10 overs before the home side bowlers crawled back in the game by allowing just 74 runs in the next 10 overs. The target of 170 was always going to be a big task for the Tigers batsmen who were unable to fetch 148 in the first match. Eventually they were bundled out for 138 despite a healthy start of 46 runs provided by the openers in six overs.
Mashrafe said the batsmen should have played with more cooler heads while losing quick wickets in the middle stage of the innings caused the downfall. “We came back well enough after (South Africa) made 95 in the first 10 overs. We started well with the bat but we couldn’t put together partnerships. I think we had problems with our decision-making. If we think about our strength, we have to score more runs in the first six overs. Other teams have hitters at the death but we are slightly weak in that area. When I say decision-making, I mean shot selection. We could have gone into the last five overs with more batsmen in the shed.
We could have got 60-odd in those overs but that didn’t quite happen for us,” said Mashrafe after the 31-run defeat. Mushfiqur Rahim, who has been a consistent run maker in the middle over the past two years, have been silent for a while now but that does not worry captain Mashrafe as he said, “There is nothing to worry. He did the best he could. We would always want Mushfiq to be in his best form, but it won’t happen all the time. It is hard to get going in two T20s. A batsman don’t always get time in this format. I am sure he will come back and the day he does, we will win that match.” The 31-year old Bangladesh captain also shed light on the decision of playing eight batsmen as he said the team management were looking to extend the batting tail. He also regretted the fumbles on the field which cost them valuable runs. l