DHAKA, June 23, 2025 (BSS)- Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selection panel insisted that Naim Sheikh earned the spot in the national fold once again by improving his strike rate, a thing that the selectors advised him to do.

Naim, who was a consistent performer in domestic circuit in the last three years, scored 618 runs at an average of 61.18 but his strike rate was 121.89, significantly higher than his usual mid 90s performance.

“What we wanted from a batter to bat with good intensity and good strike rate,” Lipu said today while announcing the team for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.

“Our two openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Parvez Hossain Emon, who are regular at this moment, are complementing each other. Naim may not play the international cricket but he was asked to improve his strike rate,” Lipu added.

Lipu said he was elated by the work ethics of Naim, who did what he was asked to do. 

“Naim has practiced and prepared a lot. We saw that he is batting with a very good strike rate at this moment.”
With Tanzid and Emon in good touch, Naim, who faced an axe from the national team following the 2023 Asia Cup, may have to wait for his chance as he is now considered as the third opener. 

 “Before selecting the team, we are thinking of a ‘best possible combination’ at the moment. In line with that vision, the opener’s position is a specialist position. Then we have to think about an alternative opener,” Lipu remarked. 

Usually there are three openers in a team. So we had to think about another opener. We chose Naim Sheikh as the best and most available player at the moment as alternative, he said.

The last time when Bangladesh played an ODI format cricket in Champions Trophy in February this year, Soumya Sarkar was the integral part but this time he found him being dropped. Naim Sheikh is believed to replace Soumya.
Ashraf, however, said that Soumya was not included in the squad considering his injury and recent form.

"Soumya Sarkar is an important cricketer. He has 10 years of international cricket experience. We expect that he would keep himself ready by performing well,” Lipu, also a former Bangladesh skipper said.

“We want him to play a big role in the overall success of the team. We have not forgotten him. However, he would have to prove that he is in form,” Lipu said.