How will team management justify Shanto's inclusion?
The UAE series beginning Saturday will provide an answer as to how Bangladesh actually see themselves in the shortest format -- a side that goes with a progressive mindset or a side that quivers and goes back to the shell of insecurity.
Much of that conversation centres around Najmul Hossain Shanto, who recently stepped down from captaincy, handing the reins to Liton Das. Yet, despite a dreadful run of form, Shanto has retained his place in the squad for the UAE and the subsequent Pakistan tours, both featuring only T20Is.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. During his captaincy stint that ended in January, Shanto amassed 394 runs at an average of 18.76 and a strike-rate of 104.23 in 24 matches, throughout which he only managed a solitary half-century. Interestingly, these numbers are not far off from his career stats, with a career average of 22.85 and strike-rate 108.35.
When Shanto was the skipper, his inclusion in the eleven was inevitable. The irony, however, is that now the shield of captaincy has worn out, Shanto does not even merit a place in the side considering his T20 figures, as well as the act of balancing out the eleven.
The only way that Shanto might be able to crack the eleven is if the Tigers go in with an extra batter, meaning they would play seven batters, sacrificing a regular bowling option against a side that are six spots below the ninth-ranked Bangladesh in T20Is.
Bangladesh possess Tanzid Tamim, Parvez Emon, Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das who could open the batting. For Shanto to come in, Soumya, given his all-round credentials, would have to start at the top alongside any of the aforementioned four.
With Soumya in, Liton would drop down to number three -- a position the team management is already pondering with the right-hander in mind.
And that would also mean Bangladesh go with four genuine bowling options -- predictably two pacers, including any one of Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam and Tanzim Sakib -- alongside leg-spinner Rishad Hossain and all-rounder Mahedi Hasan, with Soumya and someone like Shamim Hossain having to share the responsibility of a fifth bowler.
It would not be surprising if Bangladesh go down this conservative route of going in with an extra batter even against a low-ranked side, especially given their collapse against UAE back in 2022. But such a strategy may not serve them well in the long run, with 16 T20Is scheduled before this year's Asia Cup.
As it seems, the dilemma for Bangladesh remains: is Shanto worth the tactical compromise? If he fails again, the decision to include him will be under scrutiny. Or, will Bangladesh finally take the bold step of leaving him out and backing a lineup that aligns with the demands of the ever-evolving format?
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