World Cup Final Fifteen
Fahmida Waliullah (Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002)


Khaled Mashud Pilot:

A specialist wicket keeper and a developing middle order batsman. He has two fifties under his belt in pressure situation when his side was on the way to humiliating losses. After given the captancy in the end of year 2001, he has developed into a savior for Bangladesh with the bat and an inspirational leader on the field. He is the most experienced player in the side in one day cricket having played 51 One Day Internationals for Bangladesh. He was also the specialist keeper in the 1999 world cup. Sometimes his bowling changes as the captain is the only cause of concern for the fans.

Habibul Bashar Sumon:

A specialist middle order batsman. He is the leading run scorer for Bangladesh in test cricket along with being a member of 1,000 club in test cricket. His form in One Day cricket had also improved since the year 2000.But since then, his recent batting form is a little concerning for the team. Nevertheless, he is a very talented batsman and might rise to the occassion in the world cup.

Al Shahriar Rokon:

A very talented make-shift opener, but he still needs to prove himself at the international level. His recent form in test cricket is improving, but his form in one day cricket is way below par. But he is a very good fielder and can enforce breakthroughs only by his fielding.

Hannan Sarkar:

An inform specialist opener. He too is a very good fielder, but sometimes loses concentration on the field. When he can get in, he is a very attacking batsman.

Ehsanul Haque:

More of a bowling all-rounder than a specialist opener. But he is a good fielder and sometimes he bowls in such a manner that everybody would be surprised to hear that he does not bowl much in Bangladesh's domestic cricket.

Sanwar Hossain:

A specialist middle order batsman. He has always taken wickets with his off spin whenever given the chance to bowl. He is a good fielder and a very steady and consistent performer for Bangladesh at the not so important matches. His only disadvantage can be that he bats slowly.

Mohammad Ashraful:

A very enthusiastic player. He is probably the most committed player on the field. He is the record holder for the youngest test centurian, but still not yet matured yet to be a proper one day player. But he is sometimes a useful leg spinner and could take the vital wickets with the ball if proper precautions are taken.

Tushar Imran:

A specialist middle order batsman and one of the youngsters in the side. He is a good fielder and a very attacking batsman no matter what the situation is. He struggled for runs only recently in South Africa. But other than that, he is a very consistent performer.

Alok Kapali:

A leg spinner - allrounder, but more recently he has made a name for himself with the bat after scoring 1 fifty in an ODI and 2 fifites in a test series against West Indies at home. He has turned out to be one of the saviors for Bangladesh in recent times with the bat. The only disappointment with him might be that he is not as good a leg spinner as all thought him to be.

Khaled Mahmud:

A very experienced all rounder. His seamers will be helpful to the side's bowling in South Africa's condition. He is also a very attacking
batsman during the end of an innings. He was vice captain in the 1999 world cup. But the most encouraging thing about him is his attitude - he is a fighting cricketer. His only downfall could be his age and injury. And he also struggles against high class accurate bowling line up like the current world champions Australia.

Mohammad Rafique:

The lone specialist spinner in the side. His bowling could bring in some variation in the pace-concentrated bowling attack of Bangladesh. He is a good spinner on any wicket and he is also very experienced. He is a useful lower order batsman as well. His only disadvantage is that he is the oldest player in the side, i.e., if age is a barrier to success. This is his second world cup.

Tapash Baisya:

One of the new players in the side. A very good pace bowler and if he spends some time on the nets with the bat, then he also has the potential to be an allrounder. But recently his batting form has dropped and his bowling form has gone up when he took 4 wickets against West Indies in a test innings.

Monjurul Islam:

The most experienced pacer in the side. He was one of the players in the current side to have played in the last world cup. He relies more on accuracy than speed.

Mashrafe Bin Murtoza:

Once the fastest bowler of Bangladesh, still has the accuracy in him along with swing. He can be sometimes a useful lower order batsman. He was injured one year back and will make a comeback in the world cup. It will be very interesting to see if he has got his accuracy still intact when he will play the stronger teams. But no doubt the South African conditions will help him if he can manage to get accustomed to the conditions there.

Talha Jubair:

Currently one of the fastest bowler in the country, but a little wayward most of the times. But he has experience of playing in South African conditions and he has taken 4 wickets against South Africa - the best players of pace bowling at the latter stages of an innings. He is a very good fielder and also has everything in him to be a terrific fast bowler in time.

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