No APL for Soumya-Mithun
||CF Correspondent||
Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun had been drafted in the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) team – Kandahar Knights, along with compatriot Taskin Ahmed. Although the pacer has successfully obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the board, the two batsmen will not be granted any NOC, confirmed the BCB cricket operations chairman, Akram Khan.
Taskin joined the side upon his issuance of the NOC, on Tuesday (October 2). Mithun and Soumya were expected to fly out to the UAE – the same venue where the Asia Cup ended last week and the APL will be held – on Friday at 5 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time). However, it goes without saying that both of them will be happier to stay back as they will get a chance to cement their place in the national side.
Akram said: “We don’t want to let them play because of the national commitments and the two upcoming home-series.
“Taskin got the NOC for other reasons. [He is] a fast bowlers and he was injured for a long time. We want to see his condition after a match or two. He will also return [soon]. Mushfiq and Tamim are already injured.”
Bangladesh will host the Zimbabwe and West Indies for bilateral series between October 21 and December 22. With two of their senior players, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, currently sidelined due to injuries, the Tigers will have to keep some backup players up their sleeves.
Although Soumya could not impress in the Asia Cup, featuring in only two matches, Mithun has been in an outstanding form, steering his team out of danger on two occasions. However, Soumya’s experience might give him another opportunity to showcase his talent, as the southpaw belted a century in the National Cricket League after returning from the UAE.
Taskin is currently not being considered in the national team setup. His long battle with back injury kept the seamer out of the international stage for a year now.
