Solving the problem of Wildcard slot...

[Zeeshan]

...and why Ashraful might be the correct answer.

Yes, after having seen the highlights of the today's India/South Africa match it seems that the game was more of a cunning experiment by the Indians than an actual forfeit. With three top guns down Sehwag, Gambhir and Tendulkar can anyone perhaps deny that they were more concerned about their lower order strength than the actual opening defense? If the thinktanks wanted an answer for their number seven position then they certainly got their response from the Pathan's beastfest.

Alea iaecta est... Yes before the return of the triumvirate, the pattern has been set by Pathan at number seven slot and chances are India would NOT move him up the order during World Cup. If the strategy is that to maintain and monolithic squad then their team would not likely to represent an orthodox tapering off of big hitters. Heck they would even want their last man to be proxied by Gilliespie!

So the inevitable question now remains? Does Bangladesh have answer for their number seven slot? And if it boils down between Nayeem, Riyad and Ashraful who would be the perfect man for the job?

Let first look at some stats shall we? Who are the esteemed ones to hold the number seven slot and make the most out of it? Readers may first want to quiz their hunches before actually looking at the table. The following is a general setting of the players playing at number 7 slot of 20 players.

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0
CZ Harris (NZ)	1990-2004	124	104	36	2130	63*	31.32	3180	66.98	0	9	6
Abdul Razzaq (Asia/Pak)	1999-2010	93	83	22	2004	109*	32.85	2210	90.67	1	9	4
SM Pollock (Afr/SA)	1996-2008	117	81	26	1633	130	29.69	1836	88.94	1	7	5
N Kapil Dev (India)	1978-1994	90	75	13	1499	87	24.17	1712	87.55	0	6	5
Moin Khan (Pak)	1990-2004	84	71	13	1420	72*	24.48	1729	82.12	0	7	5
IA Healy (Aus)	1988-1997	99	78	21	1238	56	21.71	1452	85.26	0	3	9
Wasim Akram (Pak)	1986-2003	103	86	12	1222	86	16.51	1385	88.23	0	3	9
E Chigumbura (Zim)	2004-2010	47	43	7	1111	77	30.86	1344	82.66	0	8	2
Khaled Mashud (Ban)	1997-2006	57	52	10	1073	71*	25.54	1857	57.78	0	5	4
JR Hopes (Aus)	2006-2010	49	40	6	942	63*	27.70	961	98.02	0	3	1
RW Marsh (Aus)	1971-1984	64	54	11	904	54*	21.02	1143	79.09	0	3	5
HH Streak (Zim)	1993-2005	47	40	12	864	68	30.85	1175	73.53	0	4	1
MV Boucher (Afr/SA)	1999-2010	68	44	16	846	57*	30.21	991	85.36	0	3	4
Shahid Afridi (Pak)	1996-2011	56	45	9	828	85	23.00	633	130.80	0	2	2
UDU Chandana (SL)	1994-2005	66	51	4	815	64	17.34	1093	74.56	0	4	3
Sir RJ Hadlee (NZ)	1975-1990	47	40	8	808	79	25.25	1127	71.69	0	4	2
Mahmudullah (Ban)	2007-2010	43	38	11	801	64*	29.66	1122	71.39	0	3	1
TM Odoyo (Kenya)	1996-2010	43	38	7	774	111*	24.96	1040	74.42	1	2	6
BB McCullum (NZ)	2002-2007	49	40	8	752	86*	23.50	892	84.30	0	2	4
SP O'Donnell (Aus)	1985-1991	50	38	12	717	74*	27.57	950	75.47	0	5	3

Link

Compare it with the 7 slot players in the past 12 months:

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0
CZ Harris (NZ)	1990-2004	124	104	36	2130	63*	31.32	3180	66.98	0	9	6
Abdul Razzaq (Asia/Pak)	1999-2010	93	83	22	2004	109*	32.85	2210	90.67	1	9	4
SM Pollock (Afr/SA)	1996-2008	117	81	26	1633	130	29.69	1836	88.94	1	7	5
N Kapil Dev (India)	1978-1994	90	75	13	1499	87	24.17	1712	87.55	0	6	5
Moin Khan (Pak)	1990-2004	84	71	13	1420	72*	24.48	1729	82.12	0	7	5
IA Healy (Aus)	1988-1997	99	78	21	1238	56	21.71	1452	85.26	0	3	9
Wasim Akram (Pak)	1986-2003	103	86	12	1222	86	16.51	1385	88.23	0	3	9
E Chigumbura (Zim)	2004-2010	47	43	7	1111	77	30.86	1344	82.66	0	8	2
Khaled Mashud (Ban)	1997-2006	57	52	10	1073	71*	25.54	1857	57.78	0	5	4
JR Hopes (Aus)	2006-2010	49	40	6	942	63*	27.70	961	98.02	0	3	1
RW Marsh (Aus)	1971-1984	64	54	11	904	54*	21.02	1143	79.09	0	3	5
HH Streak (Zim)	1993-2005	47	40	12	864	68	30.85	1175	73.53	0	4	1
MV Boucher (Afr/SA)	1999-2010	68	44	16	846	57*	30.21	991	85.36	0	3	4
Shahid Afridi (Pak)	1996-2011	56	45	9	828	85	23.00	633	130.80	0	2	2
UDU Chandana (SL)	1994-2005	66	51	4	815	64	17.34	1093	74.56	0	4	3
Sir RJ Hadlee (NZ)	1975-1990	47	40	8	808	79	25.25	1127	71.69	0	4	2
Mahmudullah (Ban)	2007-2010	43	38	11	801	64*	29.66	1122	71.39	0	3	1
TM Odoyo (Kenya)	1996-2010	43	38	7	774	111*	24.96	1040	74.42	1	2	6
BB McCullum (NZ)	2002-2007	49	40	8	752	86*	23.50	892	84.30	0	2	4
SP O'Donnell (Aus)	1985-1991	50	38	12	717	74*	27.57	950	75.47	0	5	3

Link

Filtered by highest scores at #7 during the past 12 months. Top 15:

Overall figures

Player	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
Abdul Razzaq (Pak)	4	4	1	156	109*	52.00	134	116.41	1	0	0	10	10
YK Pathan (India)	7	7	1	215	105	35.83	174	123.56	1	1	0	17	14
P Utseya (Zim)	4	4	1	114	67	38.00	161	70.80	0	1	0	5	4
KA Pollard (WI)	8	8	0	245	62	30.62	226	108.40	0	1	0	17	11
Mohammad Nabi (Afgh)	7	6	2	122	60	30.50	138	88.40	0	1	0	9	5
GC Wilson (Ire)	2	2	0	64	60	32.00	74	86.48	0	1	0	6	0
GD Elliott (NZ)	4	4	0	88	59	22.00	165	53.33	0	1	1	8	0
JR Hopes (Aus)	12	10	1	299	57*	33.22	284	105.28	0	1	0	32	0
CK Kapugedera (SL)	3	3	1	67	55*	33.50	122	54.91	0	1	0	4	1
JF Mooney (Ire)	5	5	2	142	54	47.33	201	70.64	0	1	0	16	1
TM Odoyo (Kenya)	3	3	1	71	52*	35.50	55	129.09	0	1	1	7	2
Kamran Akmal (Pak)	3	3	0	88	51	29.33	83	106.02	0	1	0	5	3
E Chigumbura (Zim)	8	8	1	195	50	27.85	228	85.52	0	1	0	20	1
SB Styris (NZ)	1	1	1	49	49*	-	34	144.11	0	0	0	7	1
ZE Surkari (Can)	1	1	0	49	49	49.00	69	71.01	0	0	0	5	0

Link

Bangladeshi players at number 7:

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0
Khaled Mashud	1997-2006	57	52	10	1073	71*	25.54	1857	57.78	0	5	4
Mahmudullah	2007-2010	43	38	11	801	64*	29.66	1122	71.39	0	3	1
Khaled Mahmud	1998-2006	19	18	0	247	36	13.72	364	67.85	0	0	0
Alok Kapali	2002-2006	7	7	0	219	55	31.28	290	75.51	0	1	0
Mushfiqur Rahim	2006-2009	14	11	2	194	38*	21.55	353	54.95	0	0	2
Mohammad Rafique	1997-2007	14	12	1	173	39	15.72	169	102.36	0	0	0
Mashrafe Mortaza	2005-2008	11	8	2	131	44*	21.83	87	150.57	0	0	1
Naeem Islam	2008-2010	9	7	4	94	23*	31.33	116	81.03	0	0	0
Farhad Reza	2007-2008	6	6	1	77	26	15.40	103	74.75	0	0	0
Manjural Islam Rana	2004-2005	4	4	1	60	33*	20.00	118	50.84	0	0	0
Mohammad Ashraful	2007-2007	4	3	2	56	45*	56.00	91	61.53	0	0	0
Mushfiqur Rahman	2003-2004	6	6	0	56	22	9.33	110	50.90	0	0	3
Dhiman Ghosh	2008-2008	7	6	1	50	30	10.00	100	50.00	0	0	1
Sanwar Hossain	2003-2003	4	4	0	44	19	11.00	100	44.00	0	0	1
Tushar Imran	2005-2007	3	3	0	44	31	14.66	72	61.11	0	0	1
Naimur Rahman	1995-2002	5	4	0	42	36	10.50	75	56.00	0	0	1
Aminul Islam	1990-1990	1	1	1	41	41*	-	76	53.94	0	0	0
Enamul Haque	1990-1997	5	5	2	29	13*	9.66	80	36.25	0	0	0
Shakib Al Hasan	2007-2009	3	2	1	20	15	20.00	42	47.61	0	0	0
Golam Faruq	1986-1986	2	2	1	17	14	17.00	43	39.53	0	0	0

Link

...in the past 12 months

Overall figures

Player	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
Mahmudullah	15	14	3	217	42	19.72	367	59.12	0	0	1	13	1
Naeem Islam	6	4	2	62	23*	31.00	81	76.54	0	0	0	4	0
Suhrawadi Shuvo	1	1	0	11	11	11.00	18	61.11	0	0	0	1	0
Faisal Hossain	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Link


Mohammad Ashrfaul in number 7 compared with career average:

Career averages

	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
unfiltered	164	157	13	3360	109	23.33	4746	70.79	3	20	12	339	29	Profile
filtered	4	3	2	56	45*	56.00	91	61.53	0	0	0	7	0

Link

Eventhough Mahmudullah leads Pathan in the past 12 months in terms of #7 performance, Ashraful is statistically ahead than Riyad in all categories.

Ashraful fools us once again.

[Eshen]

I see Gopal has not yet finished his post, but just thought I should mention this - we previously thought Ashraful can be solution for other positions too ie opening or one-down, where he will have license to hit over the top. But Ashraful remained Ashraful - a dead weight who delivers only once in a blue moon.

Anyway, to be honest, I am also looking forward to see how the latest experiment with Ash may turn out (provided Siddons too is thinking about using him at #7).

[Haru-party]

bujhi nai

[Eshen]

BTW, looking at the stats, Mahmudullah does not look so bad, at least in our standard.

[Tiger444]

^Ya riyad's stats don't look bad at all compared to our standards

[Banglaguy]

Mahmadullah is a really good find for Bangladesh Cricket, but I think he is better away from home?

[kalpurush]

Ash show us if you are better than Pathan - win it against India and claim your position

[Eshen]

Originally Posted by Banglaguy
Mahmadullah is a really good find for Bangladesh Cricket, but I think he is better away from home?

You may have a point there. Lets look at stats for leading #7s on Asian grounds, for last three years (excluding stats against Zimbabwe and associates) -

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
Mahmudullah (Ban)	2008-2010	20	19	5	377	64*	26.92	541	69.68	0	2	1	29	3
RA Jadeja (India)	2009-2010	19	12	2	226	57	22.60	357	63.30	0	1	2	18	1
E Chigumbura (Zim)	2008-2010	7	7	1	216	64	36.00	306	70.58	0	2	0	20	2
Kamran Akmal (Pak)	2008-2010	10	9	1	208	67*	26.00	190	109.47	0	2	0	13	9
YK Pathan (India)	2008-2010	13	9	3	169	59*	28.16	154	109.74	0	2	1	12	8
Shahid Afridi (Pak)	2008-2010	12	10	2	162	32	20.25	135	120.00	0	0	1	14	4
Abdul Razzaq (Pak)	2010-2010	4	4	1	156	109*	52.00	134	116.41	1	0	0	10	10
AD Mathews (SL)	2009-2010	12	7	0	153	51	21.85	176	86.93	0	1	0	11	0

If you compare him with Akmal, Pathan, Afridi, and Razzaq, his SR certainly looks very poor. But then again, Mahmudullah may have been more concerned about surviving till 50 overs (which is still a big concern for our team) as opposed to making maximum use of last ten overs.

[Banglaguy]

Originally Posted by Eshen
You may have a point there. Lets look at stats for leading #7s on Asian grounds, for last three years (excluding stats against Zimbabwe and associates) -


If you compare him with Akmal, Pathan, Afridi, and Razzaq, his SR certainly looks very poor. But then again, Mahmudullah may have been more concerned about surviving till 50 overs (which is still a big concern for our team) as opposed to making maximum use of last ten overs.

His strike rate is poorer at home and so is his average..

[Zeeshan]

Hehehehe! Eshen bhai apnee jokhon amake Gopal bole daken ki apon amar mone hoy! Money hoy ami jotoi gadhami korina ken amar kache bondhu hishabe apnee thakben abong proyojoney hemlock gile khaben amake rokha korar jonno! Go Eshen bhai! Go Bangladesh! Go Riyad! Go Ashraful!

[Zeeshan]

Okay going back on topic: Mahmudullah said he's working on big shots. Has there been any evidence of it in premier league? Shastri said Riyad is solidly built and should definitely move up the order. He has got strong wrist and can play the big shots.

On the other hand, Ashraful though has poorer shot selection has more variety in his shots. If he concentrates he can manipulate the field easily during PP overs.

[Eshen]

^^ Zeeshan bhai, tomar post pore khub moja pai, ar tai tomare khub pochhondo kori. Tobe hemlock-er dhare kachhe ami nai :-)

About Mahmudullah's average, I don't think it has to do so much with home or away, everyone's averages (including that of Tendu) comes down when you filter out stats against Zimbabwe and associates.

His SR stays pretty much same in both cases - http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting

[Zeeshan]

Ashraful still leads the #7 slot in terms of batting average despite not being playing at that position enough

Overall figures

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0
Mohammad Ashraful	2007-2007	4	3	2	56	45*	56.00	91	61.53	0	0	0
Aminul Islam	1990-1990	1	1	1	41	41*	-	76	53.94	0	0	0
Naeem Islam	2008-2010	9	7	4	94	23*	31.33	116	81.03	0	0	0
Alok Kapali	2002-2006	7	7	0	219	55	31.28	290	75.51	0	1	0
Mahmudullah	2007-2010	43	38	11	801	64*	29.66	1122	71.39	0	3	1
Khaled Mashud	1997-2006	57	52	10	1073	71*	25.54	1857	57.78	0	5	4
Mashrafe Mortaza	2005-2008	11	8	2	131	44*	21.83	87	150.57	0	0	1
Mushfiqur Rahim	2006-2009	14	11	2	194	38*	21.55	353	54.95	0	0	2
Manjural Islam Rana	2004-2005	4	4	1	60	33*	20.00	118	50.84	0	0	0
Shakib Al Hasan	2007-2009	3	2	1	20	15	20.00	42	47.61	0	0	0
Golam Faruq	1986-1986	2	2	1	17	14	17.00	43	39.53	0	0	0
Mohammad Rafique	1997-2007	14	12	1	173	39	15.72	169	102.36	0	0	0
Farhad Reza	2007-2008	6	6	1	77	26	15.40	103	74.75	0	0	0
Tushar Imran	2005-2007	3	3	0	44	31	14.66	72	61.11	0	0	1
Khaled Mahmud	1998-2006	19	18	0	247	36	13.72	364	67.85	0	0	0
Sanwar Hossain	2003-2003	4	4	0	44	19	11.00	100	44.00	0	0	1
Suhrawadi Shuvo	2010-2010	1	1	0	11	11	11.00	18	61.11	0	0	0
Naimur Rahman	1995-2002	5	4	0	42	36	10.50	75	56.00	0	0	1
Aftab Ahmed	2007-2007	1	1	0	10	10	10.00	5	200.00	0	0	0
Dhiman Ghosh	2008-2008	7	6	1	50	30	10.00	100	50.00	0	0	1
Enamul Haque	1990-1997	5	5	2	29	13*	9.66	80	36.25	0	0	0
Mushfiqur Rahman	2003-2004	6	6	0	56	22	9.33	110	50.90	0	0	3
Jahangir Shah	1988-1988	1	1	1	8	8*	-	35	22.85	0	0	0
Mafizur Rahman	1997-1997	1	1	0	6	6	6.00	12	50.00	0	0	0
Zahid Razzak	1988-1988	1	1	0	6	6	6.00	21	28.57	0	0	0
Akram Khan	1988-1999	3	3	0	13	9	4.33	39	33.33	0	0	1
Niamur Rashid	1999-1999	1	1	1	4	4*	-	3	133.33	0	0	0
Habibul Bashar	2004-2007	2	1	0	2	2	2.00	6	33.33	0	0	0
Mehrab Hossain jnr	2009-2009	1	1	0	2	2	2.00	4	50.00	0	0	0
Raqibul Hasan	2008-2008	1	1	0	0	0	0.00	1	0.00	0	0	1
Faisal Hossain	2010-2010	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting

[Tiger444]

Riyad has the build to be a big hitter. When he's in form he can play shots once he spends time at the crease. I just feel that he's not capable of hitting a 10 ball 20 or even a 20 ball 30. He needs more balls to play before he can start hitting. I believe naeem even though is better when he spends a long time at the crease, is capable of playing quickfire innings. I believe naeems better at #7 then riyad. Ash could be a good #7 but its still a big risk. You just don't know what to expect from ash and that from a #7 even isn't good. Also in england once he played down the order, he wasn't very impressive. So I think naeem could be the best man as of now at the #7

Posted via BC Mobile Edition (Blackberry)

[Eshen]

If you look at our stats at Bangladesh only, for last three years, against top 7 (WI has not visited us in the period). Mahmudullah looks quite good, in comparison with other Bangladeshi batsmen (from all positions).

On the other hand, Ashraful's average looks good too, but SR is very poor!

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
Abdur Razzak	2008-2010	19	14	4	119	27	11.90	138	86.23	0	0	1	9	3
Tamim Iqbal	2008-2010	17	17	0	486	125	28.58	572	84.96	1	2	4	64	6
Shakib Al Hasan	2008-2010	19	19	3	597	106	37.31	723	82.57	1	4	1	56	4
Mahmudullah	2008-2010	17	14	3	377	64*	34.27	480	78.54	0	2	1	32	3
Naeem Islam	2008-2010	13	12	6	212	46*	35.33	300	70.66	0	0	1	17	4
Mushfiqur Rahim	2008-2010	18	17	0	364	76	21.41	553	65.82	0	1	0	23	3
Mohammad Ashraful	2008-2010	14	14	2	377	75	31.41	578	65.22	0	3	1	30	1
Imrul Kayes	2008-2010	12	12	0	388	70	32.33	614	63.19	0	3	0	36	4
Junaid Siddique	2008-2010	11	11	0	196	85	17.81	347	56.48	0	1	2	16	0
Raqibul Hasan	2008-2010	15	15	2	387	89	29.76	712	54.35	0	2	1	22	1

[Eshen]

Here is Ashraful's stats on home grounds against top 7, in DW era and JS era.

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
DW Era	2004-2007	13	13	0	272	64	20.92	368	73.92	0	2	0	29	2
JS Era	2008-2010	14	14	2	377	75	31.41	578	65.22	0	3	1	30	1

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting

As you can see, his average has been raised significantly under JS, though his SR has fallen. But in general, he can't be considered a destructive batsman in mold of Pathan or Afridi.

[Zeeshan]

^Good find Eshen bhai. Just curious what would your squad be if you decide to put Riyad at #7?

[Eshen]

^^ You mean the playing XI?

To be honest, I am having a hard time to make up my mind, so don't be surprised if I change my team couple of weeks later. Right now, this looks like a good team to me, for a traditional Mirpur or Chittagong wicket.

Tamim (auto choice)
Imrul (sheet anchor)
Shahriar (better fit for low-slow wickets than Zunaed is)
Mushfiq (has to fit him somewhere)
Shakib (auto choice)
Naeem (need him for his bowling, may be he will do better with bat if given a proper batting position)
Mahmudullah (looks like the best we got for #7)
Shafiul (has high potential as a late order batsman)
Abdur Razzak (auto choice)
Rubel (auto choice)
Suhrawadi (or Nazmul, in the match against India)

[Haru-party]

i want ash for no. 7. u just cant judge someone from 3 innings.

[al Furqaan]

mismanagement of ashraful has cost us a fair bit. utlimately ash has himself to blame, but mismanagement has meant that we haven't utilized him maximally. thats pretty bad because his max isn't very high.

case in point. if ash comes back and plays at 4...regardless of whether he's successful or not, its an asanine move by the coach/captain/selections/whoever is in charge.

first he can't make the XI, struggles to get into the XV for NZ series. and then he comes in and is batting at 4??? only in Bangladesh.

a rookie or struggling player needs to spend lots of time down the order before they can move to an important position like no 4 or no 3.

[Holden]

Originally Posted by Eshen
^^ You mean the playing XI?

To be honest, I am having a hard time to make up my mind, so don't be surprised if I change my team couple of weeks later. Right now, this looks like a good team to me, for a traditional Mirpur or Chittagong wicket.

Tamim (auto choice)
Imrul (sheet anchor)
Shahriar (better fit for low-slow wickets than Zunaed is)
Mushfiq (has to fit him somewhere)
Shakib (auto choice)
Naeem (need him for his bowling, may be he will do better with bat if given a proper batting position)
Mahmudullah (looks like the best we got for #7)
Shafiul (has high potential as a late order batsman)
Abdur Razzak (auto choice)
Rubel (auto choice)
Suhrawadi (or Nazmul, in the match against India)

I would go for a similar this line-up to this with the only change being Zunaid retaining his number 3 position as he has put in some good performances the past 12 months in this position. Shariar would be my first choice replacement if Zunaid (or Imrul, Naeem, Riyad) under perform in the first 3 games. But I have no problem and can see why some people would pick Shariar as first choice. Also I would have Shafiul coming in at number 8 if it is near the end of the innings so around 42+ overs, anytime before that I would choose Shuvo to come in before him.

[Jadukor]

Mashrafi's stat looks the best fit...20+ average with a strike rate over 150... better than any of the current three we are discussing...

[silversurf]

Originally Posted by Eshen
^^ You mean the playing XI?

To be honest, I am having a hard time to make up my mind, so don't be surprised if I change my team couple of weeks later. Right now, this looks like a good team to me, for a traditional Mirpur or Chittagong wicket.

Tamim (auto choice)
Imrul (sheet anchor)
Shahriar (better fit for low-slow wickets than Zunaed is)
Mushfiq (has to fit him somewhere)
Shakib (auto choice)
Naeem (need him for his bowling, may be he will do better with bat if given a proper batting position)
Mahmudullah (looks like the best we got for #7)
Shafiul (has high potential as a late order batsman)
Abdur Razzak (auto choice)
Rubel (auto choice)
Suhrawadi (or Nazmul, in the match against India)

3 batsman, 4 (mini) allrounder, 2 pacer, 1 spinner, 1 wkt. Thats not how a team is made. we need at least 5 batsman, 2 allrounder, 2 pacer, 1 spinner, 1 wkt, lets start like
1) Tamim 2) Imrul 3) SN 4) Rakibul / Junaid 5) Mushfiq 6)Sakib 7)Ashraful 8) Mahmudullah / Naeem 9) Shafiul 10) Rubel 11) Razzak
If we depend on more spinner then one, then we have to cut one batsman, include another mini allrounder who can bowl well, bat a little. then no. # 7 will be that. after that if we like to play ashraful, then we have to cut the # 4 postion batsman, whether he play at # 4 or # 7, what do u guys think ??

[firstlane]

Average doesn't always give you the true picture IMO. Imrul might have better average than Tamim but he cant win or save matches as Tamim does. In Mahmudulla's case his average looks healthy because he stays not-out most of the times. And he pays so selfishly, doesn't take any risk at all. It is acceptable when the top order fails and we have risk of not being able to play 50 overs. But in many instances top order made a good start but Mullah and Nayeem couldn't capitalise on it. We don't need him at no 7. He is better suited at number 3/4. In his position batting with a strike rate below 90 is almost a crime. Afridi, Yousuf, Razzak may have lower average than him but they won matches for their teams.
But having said that I would prefer anyone rather than Ashraful. He will fail us regardlessly even as a waterboy. He will drop the water bottles on the ground and cause chaos.

[Tiger Manc]

Dayummm Mashrafe with a strike rate of 150! We're going to miss his late order hitting. Those few extra runs could prove crucial, as they have done in 2010.