Ban vs WI 2020-21 – Bangladesh selectors self-assured of players’ switch to ODIs for West Indies series



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Coaches Toby Radford and Russell Domingo, meantime, want young players to develop before being pushed to international cricket

Bangladesh’s selectors will retain one eye on the progress of the country’s next batch of elite cricketers as they pick their first senior team for the 2020-21 season in the coming few weeks. West Indies will be arriving on January 10 to play three ODIs and two Tests, and even if a truncated tour, this can be a much-needed competition for the home side who haven’t played any international cricket since hosting Zimbabwe this March.

Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said that because of the strict bio-bubble rules, they are going to be picking two additional players in the ODI squad. Even supposing new faces aren’t immediately expected with the selectors eager on continuity from the Zimbabwe series, there is not any denying that the powers-that-be will be taking a look forward to blooding some youngsters while keeping the 2023 ODI World Cup as the instant goal.

Abedin thus highlighted that he was once impressed with one of the most younger players in the recently concluded Bangabandhu T20 Cup, many of whom were also a part of the BCB’s High Performance programme for 2020.

“As the training begins on January 7, we will be able to announce the preliminary squad early next month,” Abedin said. “Keeping the pandemic in brain, we will be able to be picking a 17-man squad for the ODI series. It is difficult to receive out and in of the bio-bubble, so we should be prepared. It would be difficult to select players from a T20 tournament into the ODI set-up, but additionally it is true that the native players got to play T20s after a very long time – [and] some of them for the first time. They played fearlessly. The HP [High Performance] players did mannered in these tournaments. We have the programme set in place to understand better who will play in which format.”

After the postponement of the High Performance unit’s tour to Sri Lanka in September, they in the end got together to hold a camp from October to November. Toby Radford, the new head coach who succeeded Simon Helmot at the High Performance set-up, focused on helping the batsmen understand shot selection, particularly against the red ball. At the same time, he also found out several pace bowlers coming through the ranks, some of whom had impressed him at the BCB President’s Cup held this October.

Shortly after the High Performance unit’s first training camp ended in November, Radford said that there have been couple of players who could make the step up, while others required more work.

“There are some players who are a able product, who can play in an international team the next day to come,” he said. “There are a few other younger players who have the entire attributes to play international cricket, but they may wish to get stronger, fitter or tactically a bit more aware. One or two may need a bit of technical work. We hoped to reach a good balance of technical and tactical work on the three different formats.”

Obviously, I think having fast bowlers to be had is going to be a big object for us. [We’re] making certain we cover ourselves with some quality back-up in that branch not just for the home series, but also for the absent series.Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo

Radford was once also eager to receive players fully able for the top level, that too for varied in a foreign country conditions and not just at home. “There also needs to be gaps in the team as mannered. Whether the team is performing, it is difficult to receive in if the players are able or not. I have seen some players who stood out for me. They’ve to retain making improvements to but they need the possibility.”

“But there are a few things for me,” he said. “One, you do not need players to go in before they’re able. The second one point is that it’s not approximately only doing mannered in Bangladesh. It is approximately performing in other parts of the world – like England, Australia or South Africa. I am trying to develop their technical and tactical play good enough for wherever they play.”

Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo, then again, said they’ve ample cover for the ODI squad to face West Indies, which would be the first time that Shakib Al Hasan will be named in the national team following the expiry of his ban. Their ODI squad to face Zimbabwe earlier this year had also included both Mehidy Hasan and Afif Hossain as all-round cover – considering Mehidy is a handy lower-order batsman while Hossain bowls occasional offspin – but Domingo put emphasis in having more fast bowlers around the squad.

“We have got a couple of guys who can double up as allrounders”, Domingo said. “The spinners can offer something with the bat, so I do not believe there’s too much of an issue having [batting] cover. Obviously, I think having fast bowlers to be had is going to be a big object for us. [We’re] making certain we cover ourselves with some quality back-up in that branch not just for the home series, but also for the absent series.”

Domingo also pointed out that a couple of young cricketers stood out all the way through the televised Bangabandhu Cup, but echoed Radford in saying that they should be fully prepared for the highest level.

“There’s obviously been some good performances in T20 cricket,” he said. “Guys like Shoriful [Islam] have done mannered. [Parvez Hossain] Emon got a good hundred [for Barishal against Rajshahi], but there is a big difference between a domestic T20 competition and ODI or Test cricket.

“So whilst there are some talented young players around, it’s important that they’re provided time to develop their game, in order that when they do come into the international game they’re able to perform and ready to hold their own against high-quality sides.”

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84


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