Bangladesh have opted for a minor reshuffle ahead of Saturday’s first one-dayer against West Indies, bringing in left-hander Soumya Sarkar and uncapped keeper-batter Mahidul Islam Ankon. Top-order batter Mohammad Naim and rookie quick Nahid Rana make way after a tough trip to Abu Dhabi, where Afghanistan swept the Tigers 3-0.
The decision is chiefly about depth. Soumya, 32, last played an ODI in February and missed the recent T20Is in the UAE when his visa failed to turn up in time. The selectors still like his ability to bat anywhere from one to seven and send down the odd over of medium pace if asked.
Mahidul, 26, has impressed in the Dhaka Premier League, averaging just shy of 47 across the past two List-A seasons. His only international appearance to date is the Chattogram Test against South Africa last year, but the team management feel his calm approach could steady an often-fragile middle order.
Naim and Rana, by contrast, struggled in Abu Dhabi. Naim scratched around for 23 balls before edging to slip in the dead rubber, while Rana went wicketless and could not finish his final over; team physios have since played down talk of a serious injury. Both remain in the wider pool, yet the selectors felt a change was due.
Most of the core group stays intact. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz will again front a spin unit also featuring leg-spinner Rishad Hossain and slow-left-armer Tanvir Islam. With the new ball, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed retain their spots, supported by Tanzim Hasan and Hasan Mahmud.
Form, though, is an ongoing concern. Najmul Hossain Shanto, Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain have managed a combined 94 runs in their last six innings, yet keep their berths. The coaching staff argue that continuity, rather than wholesale chopping and changing, is the way to rebuild confidence after the Afghanistan whitewash.
The series runs 19, 21 and 23 October, all matches under lights in Dhaka. Bangladesh need two wins to protect their seventh place in the ODI rankings; slip-ups could see them overtaken by West Indies before the World Cup qualification cut-off.
Squad in full:
Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam (wk), Jaker Ali (wk), Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan, Hasan Mahmud.
The opening fixture is three days away—just long enough, Bangladesh hope, for Soumya to shake off the cobwebs and for Mahidul to get his head around a probable ODI debut.
