Rumor is that Mushfiq will open with Bijoy, opening up a middle/late order position for Sabbir. Also, Saifuddin (who was expensive against Lanka last year) will be benched to make place for Nasum. Nasum has been seen practicing big shots in net, I guess, to prep to make up for Saifuddin's batting. Sabbir has also been seen practicing his legspin in nets.
Lankan batters generally are not as comfortable against fast bowlers, as opposed to medium pacers. Also, Dubai is a bigger ground where edges against fast bowlers won't fly past the boundary as easily as Sharjah. So, imo, it would be the right call to hold onto Musta-Taskin, dropping Saifuddin.
I would have preferred to see Sabbir to open. But it makes sense not to put so much pressure on him, on his return to international cricket after such a long break, to ease him back through middle order.
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