Bangladesh yesterday recalled batsman Nasir Hossain and picked all-rounder Soumya Sarkar in their 15-man squad for this year’s cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Nasir missed the recent home series against Zimbabwe but returned to form in the domestic 50-over league. All-rounder Soumya, 21, was chosen ahead of the experienced Imrul Kayes and Shamsur Rahman despite having played just a single one-day international (ODI) so far.
“The return of Nasir will add depth in our batting,” chief selector Faruque Ahmed told a press conference. “Soumya is a utility player who can bat at the top order and his medium pace bowling can be handy in Australia-New Zealand conditions.”
Paceman Taskin Ahmed also returns at the expense of Shafiul Islam. Sabbir Rahman and Taijul Islam, who both made their ODI debuts in the Zimbabwe series, were retained. There was no room for veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, the country’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs with 207 wickets in 153 matches and their most successful bowler in the 50-over World Cup.
Arafat Sunny, who claimed eight wickets in his last two ODIs, was preferred over Razzak. “Sunny is a seasoned campaigner who has been playing in top domestic tournaments for the last 10 years,” said Ahmed. “But he did not get chances because of Razzak. Now he is in better form. Also, we thought Razzak’s fielding could be an issue.”
Paceman Mashrafe Mortaza has been named captain while all-rounder Shakib al-Hasan was made his deputy. Bangladesh will play in Pool B alongside co-hosts Australia and New Zealand as well as England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Scotland.
They will start their campaign on February 18 against Afghanistan at Canberra. The World Cup 2015 will be staged from February 15 to March 29.
Squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Taijul Islam, and Arafat Sunny.
Hafeez fails second bowling test
Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has failed an unofficial test to rectify his bowling action in a bio-mechanics test in Chennai, according to media reports.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official has said the bending of Hafeez’s arm both round and over the wicket exceeded the permissible limit of 15 degrees - the legal level set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for bowlers, reports the Dawn.
“While bowling over the wicket, Hafeez exceeded the limit by one to three degrees while bowling from round the wicket it ranged between 12 and 19 degrees, the official said.
The result means PCB may not apply for an official test of Hafeez’s action and he could be picked up for the squad for the impending World Cup purely as a batsman.
The 34-year-old’s action was reported against in November, during the first Test opposite New Zealand in Abu Dhabi. His action was found to be illegal in December and the ICC report said the analysis had shown that the flex for all his deliveries was above the 15-degree limit.Hafeez was the second Pakistani spinner, after Saeed Ajmal, to be suspended for an illegal action last year.The final Pakistan squad for the World Cup is to be named Jan 7.