Saifuddin is not in the squad even after going to Chattogram: The reason was known later

Mohammad Saifuddin travelled to Chattogram on Thursday with captain Litton Kumar Das and a few other cricketers to play the T20 series. But many were surprised to see the squad announced in the evening—his name was missing from the squad for the first two T20Is against the West Indies!

The bizarre controversy over squad selection is not new in Bangladesh cricket. It has been seen before that a cricketer without a prepared visa was included in a squad for a tour, or sometimes a player on the squad was suddenly replaced by someone else. Naturally, the decision to send Saifuddin to Chattogram but not include him in the squad has raised curiosity and questions.

When asked about the matter, Chief Selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain told https://www.google.com/search?q=bdnews24.com on Friday, “This is a 15-member squad. The World Cup squad will also be of 15 players. We are trying to fix that combination from now on. If we have to keep four pacers in the squad, someone had to be dropped. This is the squad for the first two matches, he (Saifuddin) might be included later.”

He further added, “I had to form a team with 15 cricketers. I have formed the team with those whom I could get on board.”

Saifuddin last played against Afghanistan in the third T20I in Abu Dhabi, UAE. In that match, he took three wickets for 15 runs in three overs, playing a vital role in whitewashing Afghanistan. His exclusion, therefore, seems questionable to many.

Although being dropped due to team combination, considering the wicket and conditions, is not unusual. However, the main question remains—why was he sent to Chattogram if he was not in the squad? The squad announcement was supposed to be done earlier. So, was there a last-minute change of plan or a correction in the squad?

A BCB source informed that Saifuddin might be included in the squad for the third T20I and his name is also on the potential extended list for the upcoming World Cup. Therefore, he was primarily sent to Chattogram to be with the team for training. The National Cricket League is starting on Saturday. If he goes there to play and is later called up for the third match, his mental and cricketing preparation will become difficult. For this reason, the team management has kept him with the squad for practice for the time being.

When asked about the matter, BCB’s Cricket Operations Committee Chairman Nazmul Abedeen also briefly stated, similar to the Chief Selector, “Even if Saifuddin is not in the squad, he is needed for the T20 team’s preparation in Chattogram. It has happened before—even if someone is not in the squad due to team combination, they are kept with the team for the sake of preparation. This is a similar decision.”

The first of the three-match T20 series will be held at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Monday, with the next two matches on Wednesday and Friday.

Khabarwala/TSN