Following Shakib Al Hasan’s injury, Bangladesh have picked six spinners in the squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka, a move that has been interpreted as a panicked move by Sri Lanka coach Chandika Hathurusingha.
Bangladesh picked spinners Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and uncapped spinner Naeem Hasan for the first Test prior to Shakib’s injury in their 14-man squad. However, following the injury to Shakib, the selectors moved to add three more spinners to the squad. Sunzamul Islam and all-rounder Tanbir Hayder were added before the selection of veteran spinner Abdur Razzak, who has not featured for the Test side for four years.
Chandika, who knows a thing or two about the management of BCB said that Shakib’s injury probably pushed the selectors into a frenzied decision making.
He described the situation as setting ‘the cat loose among the pigeons’; a scene of chaos. Chandika believes that picking so many spinners was the effect of losing key player Shakib Al Hasan and trying to think of ways to make up for his absence.
“Unfortunately, Shakib is not there. It is a little bit of a disadvantage for them. It probably set the cat amongst the pigeons in terms of selection. I think that’s why they have called a few spinners to balance the side.”
Earlier, Chief selector Minhazul Abedin had suggested that the spinners were included to the squad following plans and procedures and not taken at the spur of the moment.
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