|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo insisted that were inclined to stick to the same squad for the three Tests indicating that Mushfiqur Rahim place in the Test XI cannot be taken for granted.

There have been reports in the local media that Mushfiqur Rahim, the most dependable of Test batsman in the Tigers’ lineup, will be excluded from the upcoming Test series at home against Zimbabwe in February.

Chief selector Minhajul Abedin had previously said while talking to reporters that the squad named for the first Test against Pakistan was also the squad for the Zimbabwe Test, slated for February 22 and the second Test against Pakistan.

“I am under the impression that this is the squad for this one Test match. We will re-evaluate once we get back. You have to remember that Mushfiqur got runs in the last Test, but we also need to consider the fact that, it is hard to pick a batting line-up, change it for one Test, and then change it again for the third Test. I want to give guys a run, but we also need to consider that Mushfiqur was our best player in India,” Russell Domingo told reporters ahead of the opening Test against Pakistan on Monday.

Questions were being raised that Mushfiqur is being punished for opting out of the three-phase Pakistan series as he decided not to travel to Pakistan series citing security concerns.

Or else why will he have to prove his mettle in the longest format despite being the most dependable batsman in the lineup considering any stalwarts in the side should not be an automatic choice.

Shakib Al Hasan could not play the India series due to his ICC ban and Tamim Iqbal had opted out of the tour due to personal reasons. However, while Tamim was allowed to return to the Test side, the matter could very well be different for Mushfiqur even if he is available for the Zimbabwe series despite the fact  BCB president Nazmul Hassan had said that players had the option to not go to Pakistan when Pakistan series was still doubtful due to security concerns.

BCB president Nazmul Hasan tone changed considerably following the T20I series whitewash in Pakistan as he conveyed his displeasure at senior cricketers opting out of tours.

 “When Tamim came back, we had to change opening pair [Imrul Kayes and Shadman Islam] that we used in previous series [in India]. Now Mushfiqur didn’t go [to Pakistan]. So, we have a problem with number four. If we had known some things from before, we could plan forward.

“Let me give a simple example. We have a Test coming up. No one is a more dependable batsman than Mushfiqur. Now think we take someone new for the number four position. What will that player do? Is it enough to play just one Test?”,” the BCB president had asked.