Sabbir fails to impress

Bangladesh batsman Sabbir Rahman upon his return to the national fold failed to make an impression in Bangladesh A’s four-wicket loss in the first One-Day of the three-match ODI series at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Tuesday.

The right-handed batsman, who is considered to be a solution to Bangladesh’s hard-hitting woes, scored three runs off six deliveries as he nicked a short one to the keeper off the bowling of fast-bowler Justin Greaves.

After being recently added to Bangladesh’s Asia Cup squad, which is set to fly to the UAE later this month, Sabbir was flown to the West Indies to play in the ODI series as part of preparations for the Asia Cup.

Bangladesh were bundled out for just 80 runs in 23.2 overs, with only three Bangladesh batsmen reaching double figures. The hosts reached the target in 23.3 overs with four wickets in hand.

Sabbir’s inclusion, which is rumored to be newly appointed T20I skipper Shakib Al Hasan’s preference, came as a surprise as he had very little in terms of performance to back his inclusion in the squad heading to the UAE.

In the Bangladesh Premier League earlier this year, Sabbir managed to score 109 runs in six matches at an average of 18.16, striking it at a strike rate of 111.22.

In the Dhaka Premier League 2022, he managed to produce a better showing as he scored 515 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of over 100.

The selectors explained their Sabbir’s inclusion saying that they were looking to bank on the experience of the batsman and that it was partly due to the series of injuries that hit the Tigers camp, particularly the injury of Nurul Hasan Sohan, who was sought to the death overs with significant strike rates.

Sabbir last played for Bangladesh in the home tri-series against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.