Coach Shaun Tait Avoids Ankon Selection Queries

CHATTOGRAM: Bangladesh’s pace bowling coach Shaun Tait was notably non-committal when faced with repeated questions about the absence of Mahidul Islam Ankon from the playing eleven, a decision that has created a cloud of confusion over the squad’s World Cup assessment plans.

During Monday’s press conference ahead of the T20I series decider against Ireland, Tait offered no clarity on the thinking behind the selection. Asked why Ankon had not been given an opportunity to prove himself, the coach simply replied, “I’m not a selector. You have to ask the selectors that question.” When pressed further, he emphatically repeated: “You will have to ask the selectors, man.”

This sharp deflection underscores the lingering tension and mixed messaging between the technical staff and the selection committee, following earlier public disagreements between captain Litton Das and chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu.

Despite the pressure of the 1-1 tied series, Tait sought to downplay the heightened stakes for Tuesday’s crucial final match. “I think we don’t need to complicate our thoughts too much. We just need to play good cricket and win the game,” he remarked.

Tait stressed the importance of building momentum following their series-leveling win. “Every time you win an international match, you gain some confidence out of that. The best thing we can do is build on that confidence and take it into tomorrow’s game.”

However, training observations suggest the focus remains on established roles. Both Ankon and fellow reserve Nurul Hasan Sohan seemed peripheral to the main coaching group’s plans, with Shamim Hossain Patwary receiving extended net practice, indicating a fixed line-up for the decider.

With the squad unchanged and the team management unwilling or unable to address the selection logic, Mahidul Islam Ankon’s wait for an international opportunity looks set to continue, leaving the core purpose of his selection in doubt.