‘This same side played well just two months ago’

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief selector Minhajul Abedin today said that they would have to keep in mind the good performances the Tigers displayed just two months back before finalising the squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan at home. 

"We have to take many things into consideration before bringing changes in the side for the upcoming home series. Yes, our performance at the T20 World Cup was very poor but for that, we cannot be fully disheartened with the current side. This same side played well just two months ago," said Minhajul after a meeting with two other members of the selection panel, Habibul Bashar and Abdur Razzak.

"We have not finalised anything. We just discussed possible formation of the team considering the strength of our opponents. We may make a few changes but we are not going for any changes in line with the media trial. We are going to play on our home soil, so we have to decide the squad accordingly," he added.

Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam and pacer Abu Jayed during practice at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

The BCB is likely to announce the team for Pakistan T20Is within the next two days and the training camp is likely to start from November 14 after head coach Russell Domingo returns from break.

The Tigers will play three T20Is against Pakistan, starting from November 19, before playing two Tests, part of the ICC World Test Championship.

There have been a lot of talks about some non-performing players like Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar and it is not unlikely that some new blood may be injected in the side in place of them.

The selectors believe there are some players who got enough opportunity but failed to capitalise on it. And when it's T20 cricket, they have enough scope for experimenting with the new players.

The problem, however, lies with past experience as many had come with a lot of potential but ultimately failed to deliver for the national side. And also the fact that inconsistency has become a norm for many talented players.