Bangladesh chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu spoke to the media on Saturday after announcing the squad for the Asia Cup 2025. He explained the reasoning behind the inclusion of Nurul Hasan Sohan.
“Every selection has a process behind it. Sometimes we also do deep thinking from our side. At times, we may not pick a player for the greater interest of the team. There was a lot of discussion about Sohan for the T20 squad in the Sri Lanka series. At that time, we felt that if the team formation stayed intact, his opportunity to play in the first eleven was very limited,” Lipu said.
He pointed out the importance of giving Sohan opportunities outside the national side to prepare for bigger stages.
“We thought it would be better if he played global T20 cricket for preparation, as we knew he was going to Darwin to play Top End T20 for the ‘A’ team. That gave him another preparation, about ten matches to play, which became a greater challenge before a big stage like the Asia Cup,” he explained.
Lipu mentioned that the selectors always kept Sohan under observation.
“You can say, we always kept him in our close watch. Maybe we could not give him international exposure then, but in the step right after international T20s, many others also got chances alongside him. Playing cricket, competing, the environment of the game, facing challenges, knowing when and where to perform, what to do if someone does not perform well, and how to bring performance back to the desired level – there was a strategy behind all of this. That was a strategic decision.”
He also admitted that the squad lacks a like-for-like replacement in certain areas.
“Unfortunately, we do not have a like-for-like replacement performer. The confidence we have is in his approach to cricket, his pattern of play, especially in the number five-six positions, where he is a good choice. For example, Jaker Ali got injured during the Sri Lanka series. So as a backup, we consider Sohan the best option.”
