BCB considers Mushfiq only for Tests series

Bangladesh wicket-keeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim has been rested for the upcoming T20 series against Pakistan to focus on the Test series.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu explained the reason for not taking the experienced batter in the T20I squad. Bangladesh will play two Test matches in November-December, then the Tigers are slated to play two away Test against New Zealand in January. “We have talked to the management about Mushfiqur. We have four Test matches in a row. The Test Championship starts with the Pakistan series, then we will play against New Zealand,” said Nannu. Nannu said it was decided by the team management to rest Mushfiq as they don't want to risk the key player since the ODI captain Tamim Iqbal is already uncertain for the Test matches. “He is one of our key players in four Tests. As Tamim Iqbal is injured, we are uncertain to get him. That's why we want to get the best out of our key players. That is why we are resting him for the T20 series,” he added.

Mushfiqur Rahim has become the biggest casualty of Bangladesh's fallout from the T20 World Cup after being dropped for the three-match T20I series against Pakistan starting Friday. This is the first time Mushfiqur is excluded from a senior side since 2008, when Dhiman Ghosh replaced him for an extended period before going to the ICL. Mushfiqur, who has played 99 T20Is, made 95 runs in five matches in the Super 12s including a half-century against Sri Lanka. Some of his dismissals however, especially his missed scoop and reverse-sweeps, became topic of intense discussion back in Bangladesh. Although chief selector Minhajul Abedin insisted that Mushfiqur was rested for the T20I series keeping in mind Bangladesh's scheduling for the next two months, Mushfiqur was reportedly willing to play in these three matches. "We have four back-to-back Test matches against Pakistan and New Zealand," Minhajul said. 

"He is a key player. He is one of our best players. Tamim Iqbal is already injured. He is in doubt for the Test series. We want our best player to give his best during the Test series, so after consulting extensively with the team management, we have decided to rest him. It is only for the Pakistan series. He will be available later." Including Shakib Al Hasan's hamstring injury, Bangladesh only have captain Mahmudullah as one of their much vaunted experienced cricketers left in the 16-man squad announced on Tuesday. Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das and Rubel Hossain are also ousted from the side too. Bangladesh had defeated the Pakistan team which was back in April-May 2015 and clean-swept them in the three-ODI series, defeated them in the lone T20 and drew a Test against them for the first time. Bangladesh and Pakistan will play their first T20I on November 19 at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The second and third Twenty20 Internationals will be held on November 20 and 22. It will be followed by two Tests at the Chattogram’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and Mirpur starting from November 26 and December 4 respectively.