Soumya Sarkar and Chandika Hathurusingha. Photo: Firoz Ahmed File
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) named the Emerging Teams Asia Cup, slated to be played in Sri Lanka with a host of players that have been on the periphery of the national team over the years.
The most striking name from the list was Soumya Sarkar, who has not been in contention for a national team call-up due to lack of form. Soumya was drafted into the squad and today the Tigers’ head coach Chandika Hathurusingha informed that such players will have an opportunity to be in the World Cup team if they perform.
Apart from Soumya, the likes of Zakir Hasan (Vice Captain), Sheikh Mahedi Hasan, and opener Mohammad Naim were also included.
While one BCB source, under conditions of anonymity, maintained that Soumya has ‘no other option but to bat in the middle order’ in the upcoming tournament in Sri Lanka, the source inferred there was certain unwillingness to include Soumya in the squad in the first place since he was not ‘scoring runs anywhere.’
Despite that, Soumya and the others have been in the national team’s camp prior to Eid vacations, and today, Hathurusingha said that despite having a settled ODI unit, the team management was looking forward to the players showcasing their form in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
When the head coach was asked if players from that tournament can make a case for World Cup selection, he was straightforward.
“Definitely [there is a chance]. Good question. If you look at our combination, we have put some players in that squad as well. Not keeping to U-23 as usual because this year that tournament (Emerging Teams Asia Cup) opened up without age limits,” Hathurusingha said at today’s press conference at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
The head coach dictated that they have a settled unit, perhaps cautioning against too much expectations.
“I think all the country in Asia using that (tournament) as a bit of testing ground to give players opportunity to show their form. Same time, we have a very good settled team at the moment. So, if someone scores runs, they put their name up for selection,” he concluded on the matter.
Meanwhile, Naim is being considered as a backup opener by the team management and Hathurusingha said he will get a game in the Afghanistan series.
“Whenever we get an opportunity, we want to give him a game as well so that is in the plan,” Hathurusingha said.
