Bangladesh’s team engaged in their usual training routine at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday. The players began with fielding drills on the central pitch before shifting to the academy ground for net practice. One interesting observation was the presence of left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who is not part of the squads for the upcoming series against Australia.
As the first ODI approaches on Tuesday, speculation has arisen regarding the pitch conditions for the series. There is a growing curiosity about whether Bangladesh will maintain the sporting pitches seen in recent series against New Zealand and Pakistan or opt for more spin-friendly tracks.
The appearance of Taijul at training sparked speculation, although team management sources emphasized that his involvement was a regular occurrence. Bangladesh’s main spinners — Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, and Tanvir Islam — were also actively bowling in the nets.
A member of the selection panel hinted that Taijul’s inclusion might have been at the team management’s request, while another source suggested he was brought in to simulate the challenge posed by Australia’s left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who performed well against Pakistan.
The pitches being prepared currently show a visible grass covering, especially the surface designated for the second ODI. The extent to which this grass will be maintained and its impact on seamers remains uncertain, with a final evaluation expected closer to match day.
According to team management sources, the first ODI pitch seems less grassy, possibly favoring spinners as the game progresses. Given the recent trend of balanced pitches in the last two home series, there is little inclination to deviate significantly from that approach.
If spinners come into play, Bangladesh’s batting lineup will face a tougher challenge compared to the usual slow, turning tracks at home. Players like Litton Das, who showed good form in the net session, and Mosaddek Hossain, returning to the ODI setup after four years, will be crucial.
In terms of team composition, the potential inclusion of Mosaddek could lead to Soumya Sarkar or Saif Hassan being left out, with the latter being the more likely candidate for omission.
The training session also saw Mustafizur Rahman bowling, but the spotlight was on fast bowler Nahid Rana, who could play a significant role in the series. Meanwhile, sources close to the Australian team mentioned the arrival of another member on Sunday, without specifying if it was a batter or a spinner. The status of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head joining the squad remained uncertain.
Updates on the Australian team composition are expected on Monday morning, as stated by a member of the Australia team management.
