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Eminent local coach and BKSP cricket advisor Nazmul Abedeen Fahim put forth the question of not picking an additional middle-order batter in Bangladesh’s ICC T20 World Cup squad which was announced on Tuesday.

He said that if any of Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, or Jaker Ali suffered an injury during the global event, which is scheduled to begin in West Indies and USA on June 1, then Bangladesh team management would be in jeopardy.

As per the ICC directives, if any team wants to change a player during the marquee competition, they need to get permission from the ICC technical committee.

‘I am putting the question for them [the selection panel]: why was the selection panel stuck with the four in the middle order? If any of them sustain a strain during the global event, then they will be required to get permission from the ICC technical committee to play someone else,’ Fahim told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·.

He further added that playing an opener in the middle will not be a wise decision as a player always has a comfort zone.

‘Team management may think that in case of an injury in the middle order, they will pick up someone from the opening slot since they incorporated three members there. Nevertheless, they ought to keep in mind that this World Cup is not gully cricket,’ he said.

 ‘Afif Hossain is there [as a reserve] but I am doubtful how instrumental he will be.’

The eminent coach further revealed his concern regarding the off-form of top-order batters; especially Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das as the duo have not been getting runs regularly.

Liton, who was dropped from the fourth and fifth T20I against Zimbabwe in the recently concluded home series, hit his last T20I fifty against Ireland in March last year.

Conversely, Soumya, who made his return to the national fold in place of Liton following a knee injury, also couldn’t play a noteworthy innings that would speak on his behalf, as he finished with 41 and seven against Zimbabwe.

‘I am in doubt that our openers will be able to fulfil our expectations in the World Cup as Tanzid Hasan Tamim is a fresher in the global event while Liton and Soumya couldn’t do anything remarkable, which will boost them to play a superb World Cup,’ Fahim explained.

However, given the conditions in West Indies and USA, he backed the selectors in their decision to pick up four spinners.

Meanwhile, former national team chief selector Minhajul Abedin also echoed Fahim’s words regarding the shortfall of a campaigner in the middle, adding that there shouldn’t be any concern about the top-order as they may regain their rhythm in any match of the World Cup.

‘I think Afif is there to fill the shoes of any injured campaigners. Still, they could have included another member as a travelling reserve; if there were, they could pick Mosaddek [Hossain],’ he told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·.