fwullah
February 11, 2007, 11:03 AM
In the other thread, we all mentioned as to whom we'd like to be in our World Cup team. However, I predict that Faruque Ahmed and Company would select the following team. If you have not read the Raquibul and other former captain's comments on the World Cup Dream Team, then please do so now, and then read the rest of the post in this thread.
1. Shahriar Nafees:
Automatic choice. The only question is, if he gets injured, then who do we pick in his place?
2. Aftab Ahmed:
Automatic choice. The only queston is, if he gets injured or is not fit, then who do we pick in his place? Also, is he restricted from bowling? My prediction to that question: Tamim Iqbal will definitely be in the Bangladesh first eleven in place of Aftab, even though Tamim will not be able to fulfil what Aftab could/can do.
3. Saquib Ul Hasan:
Our weakness in selecting the automatic choice. Although Saquib has proven that he's an automatic choice, but he has not yet really proven his worthy against the really big teams. Although he will be in the first eleven for his consistency and reliability, but if we had the time, I wish he could be a little more experinced while playing agaist the likes of India or Sri Lanka a little more. However, it is always better late than never.
4. Ashraful:
Its our bad luck and his own that he's in bad form. However, he is an automatic choice, and we cannot afford to not keep him in the side at least for the first two games and then we'll see what happens. Also, this is the position that other players like Mushfiqur, Tushar, Rajin can look upto - for stealing a place in the final eleven, if they're selected tomorrow.
5. Bashar:
An automatic choice. This time, it'll be upto him to lead the side - unlike the last time. If he is injured or not fit, then I don't want to think about what'll happen next.
6. Pilot:
An automatic choice. Although a large number of people may want to disagree with this prediction, however, almost all former players-captains would like to have Pilot in the side - just to be in the safe side. I mean, nobody want Mushfiqur to be the keeper at a crucial stage vs. IND or SL in a situation, for example, Mashrafee/Rafique/Razzak bowls a really good delivery, and the batsman is also fooled, however, the man behind the stumps failed to catch the ball - this is not what anyone would like to see. Also, lets think about this situation when we're 4 wickets down for 20 runs vs. IND or SL - in comes Mushfiqur and plays a terrible shot and gives a Hannan Sarkar/Alok Kapali 'kelas' smile - I would really hate if something like this happens.
7. Mashrafee:
An automatic choice. What will happen to us if he gets injured or not fit? I don't want to think about it.
8. Rafique:
An automatic choice. What will happen to us if he gets injured or not fit? I don't want to think about it. Razzak with the ball or Saquib with the bat will be able to handle things? I don't think so.
9. Opener: (one of the following three)
a) Mehrab Hossain Junior:
Too slow - like Javed Omar. He may be a good test cricket opener, but not good enough for an ODI, and specifically, not good enough for the World Cup.
b) Tamim Iqbal:
Brilliant stroke-maker. Like said earlier - if Aftab is not fit, then Tamim's place in the final eleven is a certainty. However, a lot of time will be spent tomorrow in the selectors' meeting over including him. Everybody would wish if we had given him the opportunity to play a few more ODIs. The best thing that can happen to him is to be selected in the World Cup squad, but perhaps at the peril of the BD team. One thing is for sure, Dav will also spend some time talking to include him in the squad.
I predict, in the end he may get in; sacrificing a bowler, perhaps?
c) Rajin Saleh:
The lone-multi-skilled-allrounder in the team. And I mean multi-skilled meaning multi-skilled - the lone right arm off spinner in the squad, perhaps the only player who could adjust in playing both in the opening and in the middle order batting position; and add to that, his fielding. Although he was not in the Zimbabwe squad, but his name will be mentioned on more than one occassion in tomorrow's selectors' meeting. The other advantages of him in the squad being - his experience and the wickets of West Indies - similar to Bangladesh where he was successful against the likes of India. Whether he'll get a place in the final eleven, will depend on how Tamim/Rajin himself plays in the warm up matches.
10. Abdur Razzak:
Automatic choice. Rafique's partner in the middle overs. However, if the wickets are not in favor of turn, then either he or Rafique could be out of the final eleven, but not out of the final fifteen.
11. Shahadat:
I was gonna say automatic choice. However, he could give away too many runs, however, the value of the last match in Zimbabwe cannot be overshadowed. He does have a cool head with the bat, although it was against Zimbabwe, and we dont know whether he can do a repeat act if he faces similar situation with the bat vs. IND or SL.
12. Tapash Baisya:
NOT an automatic choice. The only thing in favor of him is that he has been in the Zimbabwe squad and played a couple (?) of matches in Zimbabwe. He has the experience and the batting skill if we need him to bat. Otherwise, he can be just as expensive as Shahadat.
13. Md. Sharif:
NOT an automatic choice. The only question mark is, is he fit? Although many have said about his batting form recently, but he hasn't proved that in the lone game that he played. Also, he could play just one game in Zimbabwe, which could go against his inclusion.
14. Alok Kapali:
NOT an automatic choice. The only thing that goes in his favor is that the wickets in West Indies are similar to Bangladesh's and Kapali has done better at home conditions than abroad. And also, lets not forget his vast experience. However, his form and the selectors' dis-interest in him could go against his favor. His name will definitely not be mentioned more than once in tomorrow's meeting. However, he could be the 17th or 18th Stand by player. And the only other thing going for him is Ashraful's failure.
15. Tushar Imran:
NOT an automatic choice. The only thing going for him is that he was selected and also played a game in Zimbabwe. There'll be a debate whether Tushar Imran would be selected or Rajin/Mushfiqur Rahim would be selected for the middle order stand by position in the final fifteen. Even if he's selected, which I doubt he will, he may get only one game in place of Ashraful.
16. Syed Russell:
NOT an automatic choice. He has not been selected in the BD squad for a long time (seems like a long time). However, he may be included in the team if only to increase variation in our pace attack. He's also a little more economical than Shahadat or Tapash.
17. Mushfiqur Rahim:
The only thing going for him is his maiden fifty vs. Zimbabwe in the last match. Other than that, I don't see any other reason for him to be included in the World Cup squad. The best that he could do is knock the names of Tushar Imran and/or Rajin Saleh out of the final fifteen World Cup Squad and get his name to be placed there. Although I can hardly say that he'll get to play more than a game, if we can't qualify for the 2nd round. If we can qualify for the 2nd round, and if Ashraful fails to perform in all of the first (or only) 3 games, then there's a chance for him to get into the final eleven.
1. Shahriar Nafees:
Automatic choice. The only question is, if he gets injured, then who do we pick in his place?
2. Aftab Ahmed:
Automatic choice. The only queston is, if he gets injured or is not fit, then who do we pick in his place? Also, is he restricted from bowling? My prediction to that question: Tamim Iqbal will definitely be in the Bangladesh first eleven in place of Aftab, even though Tamim will not be able to fulfil what Aftab could/can do.
3. Saquib Ul Hasan:
Our weakness in selecting the automatic choice. Although Saquib has proven that he's an automatic choice, but he has not yet really proven his worthy against the really big teams. Although he will be in the first eleven for his consistency and reliability, but if we had the time, I wish he could be a little more experinced while playing agaist the likes of India or Sri Lanka a little more. However, it is always better late than never.
4. Ashraful:
Its our bad luck and his own that he's in bad form. However, he is an automatic choice, and we cannot afford to not keep him in the side at least for the first two games and then we'll see what happens. Also, this is the position that other players like Mushfiqur, Tushar, Rajin can look upto - for stealing a place in the final eleven, if they're selected tomorrow.
5. Bashar:
An automatic choice. This time, it'll be upto him to lead the side - unlike the last time. If he is injured or not fit, then I don't want to think about what'll happen next.
6. Pilot:
An automatic choice. Although a large number of people may want to disagree with this prediction, however, almost all former players-captains would like to have Pilot in the side - just to be in the safe side. I mean, nobody want Mushfiqur to be the keeper at a crucial stage vs. IND or SL in a situation, for example, Mashrafee/Rafique/Razzak bowls a really good delivery, and the batsman is also fooled, however, the man behind the stumps failed to catch the ball - this is not what anyone would like to see. Also, lets think about this situation when we're 4 wickets down for 20 runs vs. IND or SL - in comes Mushfiqur and plays a terrible shot and gives a Hannan Sarkar/Alok Kapali 'kelas' smile - I would really hate if something like this happens.
7. Mashrafee:
An automatic choice. What will happen to us if he gets injured or not fit? I don't want to think about it.
8. Rafique:
An automatic choice. What will happen to us if he gets injured or not fit? I don't want to think about it. Razzak with the ball or Saquib with the bat will be able to handle things? I don't think so.
9. Opener: (one of the following three)
a) Mehrab Hossain Junior:
Too slow - like Javed Omar. He may be a good test cricket opener, but not good enough for an ODI, and specifically, not good enough for the World Cup.
b) Tamim Iqbal:
Brilliant stroke-maker. Like said earlier - if Aftab is not fit, then Tamim's place in the final eleven is a certainty. However, a lot of time will be spent tomorrow in the selectors' meeting over including him. Everybody would wish if we had given him the opportunity to play a few more ODIs. The best thing that can happen to him is to be selected in the World Cup squad, but perhaps at the peril of the BD team. One thing is for sure, Dav will also spend some time talking to include him in the squad.
I predict, in the end he may get in; sacrificing a bowler, perhaps?
c) Rajin Saleh:
The lone-multi-skilled-allrounder in the team. And I mean multi-skilled meaning multi-skilled - the lone right arm off spinner in the squad, perhaps the only player who could adjust in playing both in the opening and in the middle order batting position; and add to that, his fielding. Although he was not in the Zimbabwe squad, but his name will be mentioned on more than one occassion in tomorrow's selectors' meeting. The other advantages of him in the squad being - his experience and the wickets of West Indies - similar to Bangladesh where he was successful against the likes of India. Whether he'll get a place in the final eleven, will depend on how Tamim/Rajin himself plays in the warm up matches.
10. Abdur Razzak:
Automatic choice. Rafique's partner in the middle overs. However, if the wickets are not in favor of turn, then either he or Rafique could be out of the final eleven, but not out of the final fifteen.
11. Shahadat:
I was gonna say automatic choice. However, he could give away too many runs, however, the value of the last match in Zimbabwe cannot be overshadowed. He does have a cool head with the bat, although it was against Zimbabwe, and we dont know whether he can do a repeat act if he faces similar situation with the bat vs. IND or SL.
12. Tapash Baisya:
NOT an automatic choice. The only thing in favor of him is that he has been in the Zimbabwe squad and played a couple (?) of matches in Zimbabwe. He has the experience and the batting skill if we need him to bat. Otherwise, he can be just as expensive as Shahadat.
13. Md. Sharif:
NOT an automatic choice. The only question mark is, is he fit? Although many have said about his batting form recently, but he hasn't proved that in the lone game that he played. Also, he could play just one game in Zimbabwe, which could go against his inclusion.
14. Alok Kapali:
NOT an automatic choice. The only thing that goes in his favor is that the wickets in West Indies are similar to Bangladesh's and Kapali has done better at home conditions than abroad. And also, lets not forget his vast experience. However, his form and the selectors' dis-interest in him could go against his favor. His name will definitely not be mentioned more than once in tomorrow's meeting. However, he could be the 17th or 18th Stand by player. And the only other thing going for him is Ashraful's failure.
15. Tushar Imran:
NOT an automatic choice. The only thing going for him is that he was selected and also played a game in Zimbabwe. There'll be a debate whether Tushar Imran would be selected or Rajin/Mushfiqur Rahim would be selected for the middle order stand by position in the final fifteen. Even if he's selected, which I doubt he will, he may get only one game in place of Ashraful.
16. Syed Russell:
NOT an automatic choice. He has not been selected in the BD squad for a long time (seems like a long time). However, he may be included in the team if only to increase variation in our pace attack. He's also a little more economical than Shahadat or Tapash.
17. Mushfiqur Rahim:
The only thing going for him is his maiden fifty vs. Zimbabwe in the last match. Other than that, I don't see any other reason for him to be included in the World Cup squad. The best that he could do is knock the names of Tushar Imran and/or Rajin Saleh out of the final fifteen World Cup Squad and get his name to be placed there. Although I can hardly say that he'll get to play more than a game, if we can't qualify for the 2nd round. If we can qualify for the 2nd round, and if Ashraful fails to perform in all of the first (or only) 3 games, then there's a chance for him to get into the final eleven.