The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming Rising Stars Asia Cup in Qatar—omitting in-form domestic performer Mahfijul Islam Robin, a decision that has raised eyebrows.
The team, revealed on Tuesday (November 4), will be led by U-19 World Cup–winning captain Akbar Ali. The squad includes U-19 opener Jawad Abrar and leg-spinner Swadhin Islam, both considered surprise picks after being fast-tracked from youth-level cricket to the ‘A’ team setup.
Despite several U-19 players earning spots, Robin—who has been in excellent touch in domestic cricket—failed to make the cut. His exclusion has been widely described as unexpected.
Robin delivered standout performances in recent tournaments: scoring 194 runs at a strike rate of 139 in the latest NCL T20, hitting a century for the Bangladesh A team against South Africa, and adding another hundred in the ongoing NCL’s second round. His strong form, however, was not enough to secure selection.
Explaining the decision, chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu said:
“Not everyone can finish first when four players are racing. Robin is very close—he’s in the standby list. For T20s, we chose players who offer better strike rates and overall balance.”
Lipu added that Robin will have future opportunities:
“If he continues to perform well in white-ball cricket, he will definitely get his chance. Selection depends on the format—red-ball performance won’t earn a white-ball call-up and vice versa.”
The Rising Stars Asia Cup, featuring eight teams, will be held in Doha. Group A includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka; Group B consists of India, Oman, Pakistan and the UAE. The T20 tournament begins November 14, with Pakistan facing Oman in the opener. Bangladesh starts its campaign on November 15 against Hong Kong.
Bangladesh Squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup
Akbar Ali (captain), Jisan Alam, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Jawad Abrar, Ariful Islam, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Rakibul Hasan, SM Meherab Hossain, Abu Hider Rony, Tofayel Ahmed, Swadhin Islam, Ripon Mondol, Abdul Gaffar Saklain, Mritunjoy Chowdhury.
Bangladesh Names Asia Cup Squad, Leaves In-Form Robin Out
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