Mohammad Naim, Yeasin Arafat, Saif Hassan - A look into Bangladesh's future
Bangladesh's 2019-20 season begins this Monday with a training camp for 35 cricketers that includes Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das among those who missed the Sri Lanka ODI series. In the absence of Tamim Iqbal, who was given a break recently, and the presence of several question marks over the fast bowling department, here is a list of rookies to watch out for.
Mohammad Naim is one of the more promising among the newcomers. An elegent strokeplayer who doesn't hold back, he was the second-highest scorer in the last Dhaka Premier League List-A competition and he impressed for Bangladesh A against Afghanistan A last month, concluding the one-day series with a match-winning 126.
Yeasin Arafat is a six-foot tall pace bowler who has earned his second call-up to a seniors' training camp in as many years. He has the best List-A figures in Bangladesh's domestic history (8 for 40) and is among the few in Bangladesh who is known for getting extra bounce from the slow pitches.
Saif Hassan was the top scorer in the Dhaka Premier League, with 814 runs at 62.61. Many age-group coaches have predicted this youngster to have a bright future and he has so far proved them right. The 20-year old has a strong front foot game and is excellent at leaving the ball.
Aminul Islam is a talent who emerged out of BKSP, the country's top sporting institute. He made 440 runs for them in the Dhaka Premier League, and was picked for Bangladesh A last month. The 19-year old is a batting allrounder who also bowls handy legspin, a style of bowling Bangladesh have been searching for a long time.
Jahurul Islam played the last of his 24 international matches more than six years ago but he has done well recently in domestic cricket. The 32-year old is known as a batsman who has never quite achieved his potential, but in the absence of Tamim, he is among the two openers being seriously considered as a replacement.
The full preliminary squad: Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Shafiul Islam, Farhad Reza, Taijul Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mosaddek Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abu Jayed, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Imrul Kayes, Abu Hider, Jahirul Islam, Ariful Haque, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Yasir Ali, Saif Hasan, Nayeem Shaik, Shahidul Islam, Shafiqul Islam, Yasin Arafat, Aminul Islam.