‘No quality players beyond current crop’

Bangladesh currently do not possess good players to represent the national team beyond the current group of players they have, according to national team selector Abdur Razzak.

Bangladesh, with an injury-plagued squad, were knocked out of the group stage as they did not have the likes of Liton Das, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, and Hasan Mahmud at their disposal.

Bangladesh are hoping to have them back ahead of their tri-nation series in New Zealand and then the T20 World Cup in Australia.

But one issue in the Bangladesh squad has been their lack of depth and addressing that, Razzak said that they don’t have quality players to pick from apart from the current group of cricketers.

“We have to pick a team from the current group of players we have. We don’t have any other quality players to play for the national team apart from them. Everyone is being considered. We will try to pick the best combination for the World Cup,” Razzak told the media on Monday.

Razzak was also hoping that the four players who could not go to the Asia Cup would return in time for the global event later this year.

“As far as I know, everybody will be fit for the World Cup. It’s difficult to go to the World Cup with injured players. I hope that the injured four players will be fit by then. But still, doubts remain regarding injuries,” the selector said.

Razzak also found positivity in the intensity that the Tigers showed in the Asia Cup.

“Yes, the Asia Cup was bad but we have found some positives. I feel the intensity was outstanding. If we can play like this, something great will happen at the World Cup,” Razzak told the media.