Shamim Hossain is back in Bangladesh’s squad for Tuesday’s deciding T20 international against Ireland, a late change that follows a public disagreement between captain Litton Das and chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain.
The left-hander had originally been left out after scores of 0, 0, 1 and 1 in his last four outings, with Ashraf explaining that Mahidul Islam Ankon deserved “a run in the middle order”. Litton disagreed, and did so in front of the cameras.
“I think it would have been better if [Shamim] was in the team. But this is not my call, [it is] totally the selectors’ call,” he said before the opening match. “I don’t know why, but the selector dropped Shamim without giving us notice. I have known that a captain would know which player would be in the team, and which player would be out of the team. I don’t see any reason behind Shamim getting dropped. It would have been better if he was in the team.”
Ashraf responded on the same day, pointing out that he “didn’t need the captain’s permission to select or not select a player”. That stance has softened, at least for now, as Shamim’s name appears in the squad list issued late on Sunday evening.
Those close to the set-up say relations between the pair have been strained since Litton was omitted from an ODI against Sri Lanka last year. Whatever the back-story, the immediate issue is tomorrow’s decider in Chattogram, the series locked at 1-1 after two distinctly scrappy games. Bangladesh will feel the pressure: they have lost three of their last five T20Is at home, and Ireland, though short on star power, keep finding ways to stay in contests.
Shamim’s recall is hardly a silver bullet. He averages 10.30 in 16 T20Is and has yet to bat beyond 30 at this level. Still, the management clearly believe his intent can unsettle Ireland’s spinners on a surface expected to slow up as the evening wears on. Former coach Sarwar Imran summed up the mood: “Shamim is hit-and-miss but, when he connects, the run-rate changes in a flash. Maybe that’s what Litton wants in a winner-takes-all game.”
Bangladesh squad: Litton Das (capt, wk), Saif Hassan (vice-capt), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Nurul Hasan, Mahidul Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shamim Hossain.
