NCL squads have already been formed: Nannu

Bangladesh national team chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu emphasized playing enough red-ball cricket and said that the board would ensure good enough facilities in first-class cricket to bring the best out of the players. 

Nannu informed that the squads for National Cricket League (NCL), the country's premier first-class tournament, have already been formed. "We sat down with the captains and coaches. We have already formed 18-member squads for eight division teams. March 22 is the tentative date. Now it all depends on when the players and staff get vaccinated," Nannu said.

Nannu hopes that the wickets will be fresh as there was no cricket since last year. "We are expecting that the wickets will be fresh in the four grounds that are going to host the NCL. At least two of them will produce a different kind of wickets so that the players get accustomed to different types of pitches."

The chief selector is expecting few players of the national team to play the third round of the NCL before flying to Sri Lanka. "The third round will begin on April 5. So the players who will be back by then can play a match. However, there will be enough time in Sri Lanka. If we can play a three-day match there and get enough red-ball practice, we'll be fine."

Nannu said that the experienced players will be preferred for the Sri Lanka tour but there is always a chance of being in contention if someone does well in the NCL. 

Nannu spoke highly of Shamim Hossain who impressed everyone in the unofficial ODIs against Ireland Wolves. "We have got few good performers from the four-day match. Shamim is doing well in the ODIs. He played a couple of brilliant innings and bowled well too. We are getting them prepared for international cricket. Some of them have definitely caught our eyes," concluded the chief selector.