If Mushfiqur (Rahim) and Riyad (Mahmudullah) were there for WC, it would have been better – Tamim Iqbal
Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s ODI captain said on Friday that experienced players like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah might have been picked for the upcoming T20 World Cup to be held in Australia on October 16.
Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s ODI captain said on Friday that experienced players like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah might have been picked for the upcoming T20 World Cup to be held in Australia on October 16.
However, Rahim retired from T20Is after his place came under analysis following a drawn-out lean patch in the shortest format while Mahmudullah failed to get it done for the World Cup.
“I told you earlier if Mushfiqur (Rahim), and Riyad (Mahmudullah) were there on this big stage like the World Cup, then I think it would have been better. Since you carried such senior cricketers for the whole year, then why (exclude) them just before the World Cup,”
Tamim told reporters at a private program in a city hotel.
Tamim also praised younger players like Afif Hossain and Yasir Ali for coming great. Afif, especially, has turned out to be an essential gear-tooth in the Bangladesh middle order in limited-overs cricket.
“At the same time, I will say that who are replacing them like Yasir Rabbi, is one whom I rate very highly… Afif is playing extremely well. The only request I can make, because that is the only thing I can do, that is, we may have different opinions on who may or may not be on the side, but no one forces their way into the side and we should not write off someone before they even play a game.
“Maybe you can have questions regarding someone’s inclusion but someone else might have a plan about him and you must give him that chance,”
he noted.
Tamim felt that the opening position is more of a specialist job; he noted that Mehidy and Sabbir should be given a run. He also cited the example of Rohit starting as a middle-order bat before succeeding at the top of the order.
“Whenever a new coach comes, he comes up with a plan. Unfortunately, I have not worked with him (Sriram) as yet, so I am not aware of his mentality and plans. And without knowing if I say that openers should open it won’t be right, because I am part of that team, though I am not playing in the T20s, I am playing Test and ODIs.
“I am sure there is a reason behind it or else why are they doing it? If it does not click, they should have other plans and I am sure they have them. If someone is not performing in one or two games, instead of getting over (criticizing) him, we should support him, because all of us want to do well in the World Cup. If we can win two to three matches, it would be an achievement because Bangladesh has not won many matches in the World Cup. Let us all be positive and see what happens.
“I feel someone who opens should come out opening, but if there is any definite plan about it I cannot say that it is wrong. Rohit Sharma, one of the greatest openers in the history of the game, used to bat at five or six. Someone must have planned for him and he opened and now he has around 25 centuries to his name. So I cannot say that he won’t be able to make it, neither Miraj nor Sabbir, and we need to give them time.”