Nazmul Hossain Shanto was not in the team in the last T20 series. That is why his absence from the Asia Cup team is natural. Meanwhile, opener Nayeem Sheikh was dropped again after two series. However, chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu said that the door to the national team will not be closed for them if they are dropped.
Speaking at a press conference in Mirpur, Lipu said, “I spoke to Shant when he was first dropped from the team. We are very clear about what we want and what he has to do to come back. Our doors are not closed to anyone. Those who play in other formats of international cricket are certainly very valuable players for us.”
“In a new format, we want to have challenges in every place…performance is needed to face that challenge. That performance needs to be secured first. I think we have NCL T20, another step above it, BPL – there will be more opportunities to play in your own place and there will be opportunities to prove yourself,” added Lipu.
Later, regarding Naeem Sheikh, Lipu said, “We have to think about a lot of things before dropping someone from the team. How much of his potential did he achieve or whether the opportunity he was given was enough. We felt that Naeem Sheikh had worked hard. We were very optimistic that he would be able to take his place given the promise he showed.”
“That would have been very good for him and the team. But unfortunately, it didn’t happen. We saw in the Top End T20s that he couldn’t meet that challenge. I believe Naeem Sheikh knows that if he wants to recover, if he wants to succeed in the international challenge, he needs to improve further. We will continue to provide the support that is needed from the cricket board or the coaching panel to improve.”
FAQ
Why was Nazmul Hossain Shanto not selected for the Asia Cup squad?
Shanto was not part of Bangladesh’s last T20 series, so his exclusion from the Asia Cup squad was a natural decision.
Why was Naeem Sheikh dropped again after two series?
Despite showing promise, Naeem Sheikh could not perform consistently in the opportunities he received, including in the Top End T20s, leading to his omission.
Did Chief Selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu rule out future chances for Shanto and Naeem Sheikh?
No, Lipu clearly stated that the “doors are not closed” for them. Strong performances in domestic tournaments like NCL T20 and BPL can bring them back.
What did Lipu say about performance requirements for the national team?
Lipu emphasized that players must prove themselves through performance in domestic and franchise cricket before securing a permanent place in the national squad.
