Surprise Surprise guys, this is a big news. Something that has been discussed for ages here in BC and approved and supported. Mushfique might open in the first ODI tomorrow and leave the space open for Farhad to come into the squad. With Mashrafe set to be missing the first ODI Shahadat is the automatic choice for the opening bowler.
This is the team that is almost going to play tomorrow, with this batting order (our main concern)
Tamim
Mushfique < (good in so many ways, but they need to perform, also LH-RH combo)
Bashar
Sakib
Ashraful
Aftab
Farhad
Rafique
Razzak
Russel
Shahadat
I will miss Mashrafe the batsmen and the bowler dearly. But can this be a good thing? We have now a surprise element with Mushfique opening, farhad batting lower down the order and adding strength with the bowling, and shahadat's aggressie tearaway bowling? Let's wait for tomorrow.
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First ODI Today
Tigers set to miss Mashrafe
Sports Reporter | |
The injury of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is set to force Bangladesh to think about a new combination when they launch the one-day series against India at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.The match, which starts at 9.30am, will be telecast live by Bangladesh Television and satellite channel NEO Sports.
Mashrafe, hero of the Tigers' two victories against India -- at home in 2004 and in their latest clash in the World Cup in March -- is unlikely to start due to a backpain that kept him away from training on the eve of the opener of the three-match series.
Dubbed Narail Express, Mashrafe was not only inspirational in both the wins but also bagged the man-of-the-match awards in both Dhaka and Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The team management, hopeful of a dramatic improvement of the pace spearhead, decided to delay the announcement of the final 12 till the morning. Sources, however, confirmed that the strike bowler -- whose four-wicket burst virtually knocked India out of the World Cup -- would not be risked for the sake of the whole series also involving two Tests.
Firebrand Shahadat Hossain, the quickest bowler in the country, is expected to take the new ball in the absence of Mashrafe, the highest ODI wicket-taker in the last calendar year.
One more change is expected from the eleven used regularly in the World Cup as the think-tank, having little faith in out-of-form openers Shahriar Nafees and Javed Omar, is looking forward to promote wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim from the middle-order to the opening slot beside Tamim Iqbal. This ploy if used might make way for all-rounder Forhad Reza as cover for Mashrafe and add variety to the attack, which will mostly depend on the spin-trio.
A shoulder injury also dented Manoj Tiwari's chances to make his India debut as the promising top-order batsman from Bengal has been ruled out of the series and sent home. Piyush Chawla and RP Singh also did not figure in India's twelve.
For India, although the team management and captain Rahul Dravid have repeatedly denied the notion, it would be a grudge series as they try to re-establish their 'big brother' image after the World Cup debacle following that five-wicket loss to Habibul Bashar's men.
With the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly reserved only for the Test matches, the mighty Indians will have to think about Bangladesh on even terms for the first time, at least before the first ball is bowled.
Source