National selectors put Saber Hossain's fury over cricketers' poor showing in India to the freeze when they maintained their conventional selection policy yesterday.
The selection panel, led by Lutfur Rahman Makhan, excepting for making a few minor changes, virtually retained the same squad for the one-and-a-half-month long tour to the United Kingdom. With Akram Khan retaining his job as captain along with his deputy Aminul Islam, the big boys of Bangladesh cricket, Athar Ali Khan and Minhazul Abedin, enjoyed the faith of the selectors.
Despite the stage-managed show of announcing the team, there have been allegations that BCB high-ups have tampered with the selection. The Daily Star has learnt form reliable sources last night that the five-man Selection Committee had included young all-rounder Al-Shahriar Rokon in the England-bound team and dropped Athar Ali Khan for his dismal performance in India. However, following a meeting the BCB president had with the selection committee chairman, manager Gazi Ashraf Hossain, coach Gordon Greenidge and skipper Akram, young Rokon was pencilled out and Athar was ushered in..
The axe for an umpteenth time, however, has fallen on players like Sanwar Hossain, young Mehrab Hossain and Anisur Rahman. Both played one match each in the Coca-Cola Triangular Series in India this month. But sadly, the duo did not find out the purpose for which they were chosen and the reason for the chop. They will be replaced by Azam Iqbal and Tanvir Ahmed, the lone leg-spinner in the side. For opener Azam, he had to wait for nearly a decade to win a national cap since he toured England as a member of the Bangladesh U-19 team way back in the 1989.
The sensational inclusion in the side is of former national captain Faruque Ahmed, who got a rare recall since he was dropped after leading the national team in the infamous ICC mission to Kenya in 1994. Summoned back to the elite echelon along with Faruque are right-arm seamer Safiuddin Ahmed, Zakir Hassan and Atiar Rahman, who will act as the second wicketkeeper in the team.
This was for the first time that the team was announced in presence of the press corps, instead of a circular being issued, with BCB president Saber Hossain Chowdhury, the deputy minister for shipping, and chief selector Lutfur Rahman present on the occasion.
While Lutfur Rahman looked confident with his selection of the team, Saber Hossain said they were following the convention of ``endorsing'' the selectors' choice. But a visibly dejected Saber did not hesitate to blast the players for the pathetic performance in India.
``Our batting in particular has disappointed me most. I think they, not only lacked commitment, but were also in want of patriotic zeal in their approach'', said Saber. But when Saber put some of the players in the dock for irresponsible batting, Lutfur came up with a ready-made defence terming it as ``inconsistent performance''.
Emphasising the need for immediate introduction of longer version of the game, Mr. Rahman, the longest-serving cricket official, said that the board should invite more foreign teams to experiment with young cricketers. ``In a competitive meet like the one in India, it is not possible to experiment with young players where experience counts'', added Lutfur Rahman.
Although the seasoned selector did not know weather that was his farewell speech, Saber said that they will recast the selection committee in the next board meeting.
Replying to a query the BCB president said that they are contemplating to rope in a physio. The England-bound team will be without a physio, but the roster includes a tour manager in Ahmed Sajjadul Alam, manager Gazi Ashraf and coach Gordon Greenidge.
Responding to another question about the Caribbean coach of the national team, Saber said, ``I don't say Greenidge has been under utilised. But the issue regarding his optimum utilisation has been raised in the last meeting''.
The squad: Akram Khan (captain), Aminul Islam (vice-captain), Athar Ali Khan, Minhazul Abedin, Faruque Ahmed, Mohammed Rafique, Naimur Rahman, Khaled Mahmud, Khaled Masud, Hasibul Hos sain, Morshed Ali Khan, Azam Iqbal, Shafiuddin Ahmed, Atiar Rahman, Zakir Hasan, Enamul Haq and Tanvir Khan.
Stand by: Sanwar Hossain, Mehrab Hossain, Fahim Muntasir, Javed Omar Belim and Saiful Islam.