ABDULLAH AL MEHDI

Things happened as if in a frenzy yesterday evening. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday issued a press release relaying that Shamim Hossain Patwari was added to the squad for just the second ODI against England, slated to be played today.

But, who made that selection call? Of course, if someone is to be added to the squad, it is strictly under the jurisdiction of the selection panel and chief selector. But things happen differently in Bangladesh cricket.

When The Daily Star asked chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu regarding the selection just a few minutes after the press release was posted in BCB’s WhatsApp media group, the chief selector was befuddled.

When this reporter asked why Shamim had been added to the squad, the chief selector inquired: “Where has he been added?”

The reporter then read out the first few lines of the press release and Minhajul appeared puzzled. “Who gave this?” the chief selector asked again. “Let me ask first.”

A matter of minutes after the telephone conversation with The Daily Star concluded, the press release was deleted. Funnily enough, the press release was re-posted again after another few minutes had gone by, perhaps following a bit of damage control among BCB officials.

Question however remain about exactly on whose authority the decision was made, especially since the chief selector was left in the dark.

It could have been Chandika Hathurusingha’s choice, but the selection panel not knowing about it portrays the lack of a proper process and the coordination that often happens between various departments.

According to sources, pacer Taskin Ahmed is doubtful for the second ODI against England. In case there is an issue that renders him unable be field, Shamim, who is yet to make his ODI debut, could be used as a back-up option.

Taskin has a slight hamstring injury issue and that could be a big blow to Bangladesh after he had bowled with a lot of fire in the first ODI against England.