Nazmul Hassan Papon, Minister for the Youth and Sports squeezed out his choice about the Bangladesh national cricket team’s playing XI in the upcoming ICC men’s Cricket World Cup in USA and West Indies.
Papon put across his speculation to reporters after handing over the championship trophy of the Bangladesh Premier League football to Bashundhara Kings on Saturday.
Papo when addressing in the trophy distribution ceremony at the Bashundhara Kings Arena told that till now he believes football is the most popular game in Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) have to play the key role for the development of the country’s football.
Meanwhile, Bashundhara Kings, the new powerhouses of the domestic football won the title of the top tier football league in Bangladesh fifth time in a row overshadowing the traditional giants Mohammedan Sporting Club and Abahani Limited.
Papon, as the chief guest handed the trophy of the 14th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League 2023-2024.
“I have no doubt at all that football is still the most popular game in the country. The standard of the country’s football is not now at it’s level due to different issues and lacking. The federation (BFF) will have to play the main role for the country’s football,” Papon said the reporters after distributing the trophy.
However, the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), replying to queries to the reporters, when expressed his choice there was no surprise in his choice, as he pointed towards the players who were in the series against Zimbabwe would be play in the World Cup.
“If you asked me about the openers, it’s difficult but I can say, Shanto would play at three, Shakib and Bijoy would play at four and five
respectively, it might be reverse also. Mahmud Ullah at six, Onik at seven, if we keep all these batters,
spinners will come after them and there may be Rishad or Sheikh Mahadi will come and then the
pacers at the tale. This is the standard.”
Papo also thinks that there is no room for any other pacer rather than Taskin, Shoriful and Mustafiz, if Taskin would be fit to play.”
The BCB Boss also said, “There are some awkward situation with the openers, as Litton Das, no doubt should be an auto choice but for last few days he has been suffering with bad patch, Shomaya Sarker also returned after a long time, when he play his own game that is tremendous but he also can’t keep up the momentum.
But Tanzid Sakib did well in the last few matches. So who will be in the opening stand, it’s tough to say.”
