The anticipation is palpable as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) gears up to unveil the new ODI captain for the national team later this week. Following consultations with potential candidates, including Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the BCB is tasked with making a strategic decision to lead the team into the upcoming challenges.
Amidst discussions, Shakib Al Hasan has reportedly emerged as the front-runner for the ODI captaincy. However, the path to the final decision is not without its complexities. While board president Nazmul Hassan indicated that appointing Shakib might seem like an “easy decision,” sources suggest that there are nuanced considerations at play. As the current Test and T20I captain for Bangladesh, the question remains whether Shakib is inclined to take on leadership responsibilities across all formats.
The urgency to finalize the ODI captaincy intensified after an emergency meeting held on Monday failed to reach a consensus. The board’s commitment to making an informed choice led to a decision to engage the candidates themselves. With the impending deadline of August 12 for announcing the Asia Cup squad, the BCB has a mere three days to come to a resolution.
Shakib Al Hasan, presently located in Colombo, adds an element of anticipation to the decision-making process. Litton Das, fresh from his participation in the Global T20 Canada, has returned to Bangladesh, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz remains in Dhaka, making it a task to gather insights from each candidate.
Jalal Yunus, the BCB’s cricket operations chairman, elaborated on the board’s approach, stating, “We want to hear it from the candidates what they feel about captaining the red and white-ball teams. We want to appoint a captain for the Asia Cup. We have time till September 5, which is the deadline for World Cup squad declaration, to talk about the World Cup captain. We need to hear what the new captain will say. We will announce the team in the next couple of days. We will announce the captain too.”
The stakes are high as Bangladesh looks forward to a crucial period of cricket, with the Asia Cup commencing on August 30. In a bid to consolidate their team for future endeavors, the BCB aims to name a preliminary squad of 22 players for the World Cup by August 12, a roster that will encompass those selected for the Asia Cup.
The vacancy in the ODI captaincy arose when Tamim Iqbal stepped down from the role on August 3, citing a back injury that also led to his withdrawal from the Asia Cup. Despite this setback, Tamim aims to regain fitness in time for the ODI series against New Zealand, beginning on September 21, and the subsequent ODI World Cup.
Tamim’s resignation came in the wake of a previous emotional decision to retire from international cricket, a choice he reversed less than a month later following an appeal from Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The circumstances leading to Tamim’s initial retirement, including comments by board president Nazmul Hassan, continue to underline the intricate dynamics of leadership and team dynamics within Bangladesh cricket.
