Al Amin awaits Tigers call-up

Uncapped pacer Al Amin Hossain is set to be named in the national team when the selectors announce the final 14-member squad today for the first Test match against New Zealand that begins in Chittagong on October 9.
Sources also informed that Naeem Islam and Anamul Haque, who had missed out on the Test tour in Zimbabwe, are also returning to the side. Meanwhile, Marshall Ayub, who was a member of the Test squad for Sri Lanka but is yet to make his debut, is also being included.
On the other hand, Jahurul Islam and Ziaur Rahman, both of who played in the Test series against Zimbabwe, may be dropped from the side.
The decision to include Al Amin in the side was based on his recent performances on Bangladesh A’s tour of England and the Dhaka Premier League (DPL). He has so far taken 18 wickets in five matches in the premier league.
The other factor that may have played a positive part in Al Amin’s favour is that the other pacers in the side are nursing injuries. Robiul Islam, who suffered from a hamstring pull early last month, is still in the recovery process. Rubel Hossain has also been pulled out of his Wednesday’s DPL match due to a stiff muscle. Both the players however, are expected to be ready in time for the New Zealand series.
Bangladesh Cricket Board had earlier announced a 28-member preliminary squad for the series and was expected to announce the final squad after the three-day practice match scheduled to begin on October 4 in Chittagong. The board also announced a separate squad for the three-day match.
However, following a meeting between the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis, which runs the Dhaka Premier League, and the BCB’s Cricket Operations Committee, the team management submitted the final squad yesterday evening for the board president’s approval.
It was learnt that one of the reasons behind choosing a 14-member side — much before the expected date of announcement — was to avoid affecting the ongoing Dhaka Premier League by taking away a huge group of players for the camp.
Thus, the squad for the three-day match is also expected to change and is expected to be formed with players who won’t be participating in the Dhaka League in those three days.