Back in October 2025, Shamim Hossain Patwari was left out of the T20I series against the West Indies, prompting a public disagreement between captain Litton Das and then chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu. Speaking at a press conference in Chattogram, Litton claimed that Lipu had not consulted him before announcing the squad.
Litton’s remarks sparked debate, with Lipu responding that not everything requires consultation. The exchange highlighted a perceived lack of coordination within the selection panel at the time. Shamim was later included in the squad but failed to make a significant impact.
The issue, however, extended beyond individual performance and reflected deeper procedural concerns.
Fast forward to April 2026, Bangladesh cricket has a new selection panel led by former captain Habibul Bashar Sumon, alongside selectors Hasibul Hossain Shanto, Naeem Islam, and Nadif Chowdhury. The team is preparing for upcoming white-ball assignments, including a three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting April 17. The selection panel has started their job by backing the previous squad from Pakistan series as they have announced an unchanged squad for the first two matches.
Amid past concerns over communication between selectors and players, Bashar dismissed the criticism, insisting there is no breakdown in coordination.
“I don’t think there is a lack of communication. The two selectors with me have recently played together, so there is a strong understanding. On and off the field, there is communication with everyone,” Bashar said.
He added, “One thing must be understood, you cannot accommodate everyone in the squad. We discuss and build the team together. That does not mean we always agree with everyone. The selection committee has its own thoughts, and the captain has his own views. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we don’t.”
The Bashar-led panel retained the same squad that featured in the previous series against Pakistan, a move he said was driven by continuity and confidence in the winning combination. “We want to believe in continuity, which is why we have retained the same squad,” he said.
However, Bashar also indicated that players such as Soumya Sarkar, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Tanvir Islam, and Shoriful Islam, who did not get game time in the previous series, would be considered for future opportunities.
“When we assessed the team, we had a successful series. Bangladesh played good cricket in the last series. Some players did not get a chance in the XI, and a few new players were included in the previous series,” he said.
“We have a policy in place that when someone is brought in, they should be given adequate opportunity,” he added.
Selection decisions around Saif Hassan once again drew attention. In the previous series against Pakistan, Saif managed scores of 36, 12, and 4. Despite that, he was preferred over Soumya Sarkar, who had been the top scorer in the West Indies series with 140 runs from three innings but remained on the bench.
Saif, who was initially given a breakthrough in T20Is, has now been backed again by the selectors. Explaining the decision, Bashar said the panel is still working on plans set by the previous committee.
“The previous selection committee worked with a plan. Saif Hassan has been included as an opener, and he played in the last series. We know we have made several changes in the opening position over time, and we are trying to settle this area,” he said.
He also stressed that players cannot be judged on a small sample size, “When someone is given an opportunity, we feel three matches are not enough. Since he has already played, we want to give him a bit more opportunity. We do not want to go for constant chop and change.”
“Saif Hassan will definitely get his chance, and only then can we make a proper decision,” he added.
Meanwhile, newly appointed ODI vice-captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s recent form has also raised concerns. Typically batting in the top order, Shanto has struggled to convert starts, often getting out in the 25–40 range despite having crossed 50 runs 13 times previously. His last five innings read: 27, 0, 27, 44, and 15.
Addressing his form, Bashar remained supportive. “Shanto is one of our prolific batsmen. He is not in great touch at the moment, but if you look at his past, he has played many good innings. We expect better performances from him,” he said.
