There is some confusion surrounding Bangladesh’s squad for the second Test against Pakistan, which begins on Saturday, over the status of Mohammad Ashraful. The coach Stuart Law has said Ashraful was part of the squad – and he was seen training with his team-mates – but the selection panel’s list, which is yet to be approved by the BCB president as is mandatory, does not contain his name. The confusion arose after the selection panel were reported to have picked a squad for the second Test excluding Ashraful and the injured Rubel Hossain, and giving Shafiul Islam a recall.
The list is expected to be approved by BCB president Mustafa Kamal, who is due back in the country late on Thursday night. Ashraful, however, checked into the team hotel yesterday along with the other members of the squad and went through the pre-match procedures this morning and it seemed the team management were working on the assumption that he would be picked. “As far as I know, Ashraful is in the squad. That’s why he’s here in practice. We haven’t been told anything different,” Law said. “Maybe it is speculation and that sort of thing goes on in this part of the world.
“All I have done is prepared like a Test match. I have told everyone to be prepared for all outcomes come match day. That’s the same in any team. We have turned up here today as a squad from the first Test. We have all practiced like we are playing a Test match. So that’s not an issue.” Akram Khan, the chief selector, told reporters that the panel had finalised the team and handed it over to the BCB. “We submitted the team to the board today because we have only two days in hand for practice before the second Test match.” Ashraful had made a comeback to the squad for the first Test against Pakistan, after being dropped for Tests against West Indies and the ODIs against Pakistan. He managed only 1 and 0 in Chittagong.
