Hathurusingha wants to give opportunities to some players prior Asia Cup and World Cup
Afif Hossain, Cricfrenzy
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The Bangladesh team is now in Chittagong to play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. After two days of closed-door practice, the doors of Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium were opened for the media on Monday.
Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha revealed his plans for this series in the press conference before practice.
This is Bangladesh's last bilateral series before the Asia Cup in Pakistan and Sri Lanka next August-September.
Apart from the Asia Cup before the World Cup, there is only a three-match ODI series against New Zealand. That will be just before the World Cup. The World Cup squad is more likely to play in these two series.
Hathurusingha informed that the management is willing to give some players chance before the two big events as he wants see the depth of his own strength.
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“We're trying to give some guys a chance. It doesn't mean experimenting. We as the coaching group and the selectors know what we want to do and where the players need to focus. We want to have the depth to deal with injuries or any other emergencies ahead of the Asia Cup and the World Cup. Keeping that in mind, we are trying to give some cricketers a chance." Hathurusingha said in the press conference in Chattogram.
Afif Hossian and Mohammad Naim Sheikh can claim the opportunity to play matches in the 15-man team of Afghanistan series.
In the last Dhaka Premier League, Naim scored the season's highest 932 runs in 11 fifty-touch innings. Afif batting in the middle-order in the same league scored 550 runs at a strike rate of 110.
"Whenever we get an opportunity, we want to give him (Naim) a game as well so that is in the plan. (Afif) will play in the middle-order." Hathurusingha said.
However, Naim may get the opportunity to play more than one match because captain Tamim Iqbal's injury fear is not completely over. The ODI captain, who missed the Test against Afghanistan last month with a back injury, is still under observation.
“I will not discuss anyone's medical history here. But he (Tamim) has practiced for the last two days. He is good so far. We are monitoring his condition closely and see how he feels after practice." he added.
