The World Cup team should be allowed to play the maximum number of matches before the start of the tournament, feels Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal. For this, he thinks that the ‘experiment’ should be stopped at some point. Tamim also said that the Asia Cup team will be the World Cup team.
The three-match ODI series against Ireland starts in England from May 9. After that, before the World Cup to be held in India in October-November this year, Bangladesh will get the opportunity to play three more series – the Asia Cup between the bilateral series against Afghanistan and New Zealand.
Recently the selectors said that they have a pool for the World Cup. Finally, the World Cup team will be selected from that pool. For now, they want to experiment with series. But that also has to be stopped at some point, Tamim said while talking to reporters in England today, ‘This series, maybe in the next series, to see as many people as possible, to give some new opportunities.
We are mainly targeting these series. In the last series too, I have changed the batting order, I have made some people bat higher. At some point the experiment must be stopped. You have to give maximum matches to the World Cup squad.
Recently, there is a lot of discussion about the two in the context of the World Cup team. Mahmudullah and Afif Hossain – Both have been dropped from the team. But they are also in the reckoning; Tamim said again, ‘Even if I talk about Afif, I think he has the same chance as any other player. He is doing well.But I think Riyad (Mahmudullah)-Afif is for us.
Tamim also said that these two and everyone doing well in the Dhaka Premier League is being talked about.
All in all, the Asia Cup team will go to the World Cup, he said, ‘You will get an idea when we play in the Asia Cup. The squad that we will make will be very much the World Cup squad if no one fails or gets injured. Other than that I don’t think there will be any such difference.’
Although there is always more demand at one or two places when it comes to stopping testing, Tamim also said today, ‘You can never be satisfied with the team. There will always be a spot or two where you wish everyone could play better. I am talking about the young people who have made the most of their opportunities.
One thing, any particular place cannot be guaranteed to be final. When we play this series, we will see different conditions in the next series. The best team will go to the World Cup. So far those who have had the chance like Tawheed Hriday—he is playing brilliantly.’
Bangladesh played with six batsmen in the last series against Ireland at home. The combination that can change in England, Tamim also gave a glimpse, ‘we played with the five-six batsmen or all-rounders that we played in the last series. Played an extra bowler. But condition is important. A lot depends on it. In Asia we will play one spinner more. Maybe one pacer will play more here.
However, taking one more bowler or batsman is not a problem. Because Mirage is playing well. So we can play with extra bowler or batsman. And I haven’t seen the field yet. Since I haven’t seen the field yet, I can’t say anything yet.
