Pick your one day team for 1st ODI

[rafiq]

OK, enough of the gloom and doom. Let's do what we do best - pick our best eleven, back it up with reasons and watch helplessly as the selectors do something completely different!

Given that the wicket may be the same one as the 2nd test, I think we need 3 pacers and 2-3 spinners including the part-timers. We also need to take a batsman at 6 instead of so-so and or untested allrounders. So here is my team:

Hannan
Nafees
Bashar
Rajin
Alok
Moniruzzaman
Mashud
Sujon
Rafique (if injured - Manjarul Islam Rana)
Tapash
Monir

not used: Mushfiq, Rana (or Rafique if injured), Jamal - these guys can come in the later matches as necessary. I'm excited to see what Rana, Nafees and Moniruzzaman can do, but would like to pass on Mushfiq and Jamal - that's just too much for one series.

[chinaman]

Hmm..
Almost like dream team.

[Ockey]

Given the circumstances of the BD camp, the wicket in Chittagong, and after much thought, I would have to agree with selection, although I still remain adament against Nafis' inclusion. If it were up to me, I would retain Javed. I hope Nafis' proves me wrong.

Rajin and Kapali need to step in the bowling department in the 1st ODI. Kapali really needs to find confidence and technique to bowl 5 to 10 over spells.

For the second ODI, I would like to see two spinners and two pace bowlers. (excluding Sujon). Ideally I would like to see Rana and Rafique and would be curious to see the Jamaluddin and Rafique combo.

Just because the selectors feel certain of a top order collapse is not a good enough reson to pack an extra batsmen. OD games are all about winning or losing. If BD is to stand any chance then they have to bowl out the opposing team or restrict them to less than modest totals.

[oracle]

Moniruzaman should open with Sarkar or no. 4 after Bashar. That way Rajin and Alok are at 5 & 6 position as it should be.

Sarkar
Moniruzaman
Bashar
Nafees
Rajin
Alok

[Edited on 6-11-2003 by oracle]

[amra_korbo_joy]

we do not have strike bowler(since Masrafi is out),
though pace friendly wkt, we need to depend on spinner.
Hannan be wicket keeper and get another real batsman: Moniruzzaman
instead of Masud like India.

Hannan
Nafees
Bashar
Rajin
Alok
Mushfiq
Moniruzzaman
Sujon
Rafique (if rafiue can't play, select Jamal)
Manjarul Islam Rana
Tapash

[Ehsan]

amra korbo joy's idea is not bad. But if that is the case then Moniruzzaman has to move up the order, before Alok or Musfiq.

[chinaman]

On a different note, how about playing 8 batsmen and two bowlers only? At least we can hope to seal a decent score against, say, 300+ runs. Sounds crazy but is it too bad?

[rafiq]

The preview on Crickinfo suggested it won't be the greentop from the first test, but a more placid wicket. So spin will be a bigger factor. If Rafique is fit, they could play Rafique-Rana instead of Moniruzzaman, Rana is supposed to be an allrounder. In any case, I can't find a reason to play Mushfiq ahead of eitther Rana/Moniruzzaman at the #6 slot.

But knowing the selectors, I know they must find a way to play Mushfiq. So I will not be surprised to see Mushfiq instead of Monir, so that Tapash/Mushfiq opens the bowling. Their reasoning will be that Mushfiq takes one day wickets, and can bat better than Monir.

[Sham]

I think we need to go in with two spinners (Rafiq and Raana if Raf is fit or Raana and Jamal). In the middle overs, our spinners tend to do well in ODIs.

I don't think however that we should pack our team with batters. Anyway, I wrote a long one for the front page so I wont write much here.

[Mahmood]

From news papers, it seems, we will have 3 debutants today.

The team...

Hannan
Nafis
Sumon
Rajin
Kapali
Mushfiq
Pilot
Sujon
Rana
Jamal
Tapash

[Sham]

Only, I had Mahmud promoted to three. That looks like the most balanced side. We have nice depth in the batting and a lot of bowling options.

[rafiq]

good job sham! of course, mushfiq HAS to be in the side, we are getting better at thinking like BD selectors.