No worries about pace attack

As the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that England's tour to Bangladesh in October would continue as planned, the home of cricket in Mirpur was overcome by a vibrant mood. The players were buzzing, the officials were hustling and the selectors were working to fine-tune the 15-member squad for the three-match ODI series against England.

The Tigers' one-day squad has gotten into good shape following their performances over the past two years under the leadership of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. So nobody would expect any significant changes to the side for the home series against England, who will arrive in Dhaka on September 30 to play three ODIs and two Tests spread across Mirpur and Chittagong.

However, the selection committee has been doing some brainstorming in order to adequately shape the bowling attack. Especially the pace attack needs some tinkering with after their special weapon, Mustafizur Rahman, was ruled out due to injury and as Taskin Ahmed's fate hangs in the balance.

The selection committee is likely to announce the 15-member ODI team before head coach Chandika Hathurusingha goes on leave on September 2, so that the team can practice together after the Eid vacation.

It is more or less confirmed that the team will comprise three pace bowlers. Taskin Ahmed along with left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny will go to Australia on September 6 and have their respective bowling actions tested at an ICC-accredited centre in Brisbane on September 8.

As it is a home series, the selectors are not willing to hold back the announcement of the team until the result of Taskin and Sunny's tests are revealed.

“We will most likely give the team before our coach leaves on holiday. We are planning to announce the team by September 2 so that they can train together after the Eid break. The ODI players will play the first round of the BCL starting from September 20,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin.

However, some changes may be made if Afghanistan come to play an ODI series before the England tour.

“We have got a settled one-day team. But as Mustafizur is out and we are yet to know about Taskin, we have to think about our pace bowling options.

“The good news is that Rubel [Hossain] has fully recovered and Shafiul Islam's condition is very good. So we are not too concerned with our pace attack,” he continued.

“We have had a special focus on fitness and refreshingly, the players had very good fitness training and all are fit,” Minhajul added.

Selector Habibul Bashar found no reason to be concerned with the pace department. “Rubel, Al-Amin [Hossain] and Shafiul [Islam] are available for selection and they are experienced and proven bowlers in international cricket. We also have some pacers in Subashis Roy and Kamrul Islam.

“You cannot replace Mustafizur but you have to accept the fact that a pace bowler cannot be available all the time,” said Bashar.

“In the past you saw Bangladesh play good cricket even absence of some of its key players and it's a good indication for our cricket. So we should accept the reality. I believe a culture has developed in our team where players try to make best out of their opportunities,” he added.

Bashar also believed that Mustafizur missing out would be an opportunity to show the world just how much the Tigers had improved.

“Our pace attack over the past two years drew attention from the whole world. There is no doubt that Mustafizur's arrival brought out excitement and added a new dimension to the team. However, in order to determine how good a team truly is you have to see what they have in the pipeline. It depends on what kind of replacements you have for the team. So if we look at it like that, then this is an opportunity to show just how good our team really is.”