BCB mulls fielding 3 pacers against Sri Lanka

Saturday, 5 September 2020 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

(The Independent): Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is considering to field three pace bowlers against Sri Lanka in the upcoming three-match Test series, shaking off its usual policy of making home pitch spin-friendly.

When Tigers go to play overseas Tests, they always keep their full faith in three or four pacers because of the nature of the pitches. But the scenario is totally different when they play on home ground. The BCB always builds the spin-friendly wickets in order to floor their opposition sides for which they decrease the number of pacers. Sometimes it dwindles from three to two or one.

Even they played with no pacer on several occasions on home ground. For example, Bangladesh played against Afghanistan in a one-off Test with no pacer. Bangladesh led by Shakib lost the Test against the Asian newcomer and drew huge flacks when they lost the match by an innings on home soil.

At this moment, pacer Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi, who gradually becomes the cog of the pace bowlers with his consistent performance, spearheaded Bangladesh bowling attack in white-ball cricket. The BCB, on the other hand, keeps their full faith in the sheer speed of pacer Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury though he spent more runs than the other bowlers.

Everybody keeps their vigil eyes on the team selection who will be the third pacer in the Sri Lanka Test series along with Rahi and Ebadot.

There are some experienced pacers including Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam and Al Amin Hossain in the bowling line-up. Even pacer Mohammad Saifuddin, who is yet to make Test debut despite playing in ODIs and T20Is, might be seen in the Sri Lanka Test series as the third pacer.

The BCB did not fix the bowling combination yet which pacers will be playing in the three-match Test series against the islanders.

While talking about the matter, the BCB Chief Selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu said they have a pace-bowling line-up of 4-5 bowlers from where they will pick the right bowlers in the need of the team combination.

“There are some pace bowlers whom we are preparing them for Tests. There is a list of 4-5 pace bowlers from where we pick and let them chance to play,” Minhajul Abedin said.

“We normally allow playing two pace bowlers in the subcontinent due to the team combination. We think of three pacers when we go out of the home conditions. The combination is ready after holding discussion with the team management,” Nannu also said.

“I think the pacers have had the ability to play with three pacers. We have that confidence,” he added.

Former Bangladesh captain Akram Khan said Bangladesh have the ability to play Tests with three pacers.

“The bowling combination coupled with the team combination will be defined to sit with the team management. Therefore, I think the pacers we have played have every capability to forge unity among the pace trio. We have that confidence,” said Akram Khan, who is also a BCB director and its cricket operations committee chairman.