Why Amite omitted after just one Test

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday announced a 15-member squad for their one-off Test against Afghanistan in the UAE from October 9-13, with in-form batter Tawhid Hridoy returning to the Test side after a series gap.

Hridoy’s selection was almost inevitable after his sensational unbeaten 350 off 481 balls against South Africa ‘A’ in Potchefstroom earlier this month.

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Jaker Ali Anik also earned a recall after scoring 94 in the same innings in which Hridoy registered the highest first-class innings by a Bangladeshi batter. His return, however, came at the expense of wicketkeeper-batter Amite Hasan, who travelled to Australia with the national team but did not get a chance to play in either Test.

Chief selector and former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said Jaker is currently their second wicketkeeping option behind Litton Das, as Bangladesh brace for a series of important World Test Championship (WTC) matches.

“Amite Hasan has just started and will surely get his chances in the future, but for these immediate Tests, we chose Jaker Ali Anik as our second wicketkeeper option,” Bashar said in a video message.

Amite’s exclusion came after the 25-year-old had limited opportunities to prove himself at Test level. On the back of a run-spree in the domestic circuit, he made his debut against Zimbabwe in June, scoring 29, and later made 15 and four against Cricket Australia XI in a three-day practice match in Australia, where most of Bangladesh’s batters struggled as the Tigers suffered a heavy defeat.

Hridoy’s inclusion also appears to have contributed to Amite being sidelined, as both are middle-order batting options alongside mainstays Mushfiqur Rahim and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. Without Jaker, Bangladesh would have been left with only Litton as a wicketkeeping option.

“For the upcoming Tests against Afghanistan and the crucial WTC matches against West Indies, South Africa and England, we heavily require experienced and proven players,” Bashar added.

Meanwhile, the selectors have rested pacer Taskin Ahmed for the Afghanistan Test so he can be fully prepared for the home Test series against West Indies later this month and subsequent WTC assignments.

“We have also rested Taskin Ahmed from this Test match. Since we are prioritising the World Test Championship (WTC) matches, we want him completely ready for the West Indies Test series. He might play the ODI series if he maintains his rhythm,” the chief selector said.