Samsul Arefin Khan

In cricket, selection is meant to follow clear logic: form, fitness, team balance, and future planning. But when a player vanishes from consideration while none of those criteria fit, darker questions emerge.

With the ICC World Cup scheduled to be held in Africa from October 4 to November 21 next year and Bangladesh almost certain to secure a direct berth based on their ranking, preparations for the global showpiece are already underway.

The latest EOI, issued on September 6, is the second such invitation from the BCB in two months.

Tamim said a player completing the domestic season could earn Tk 35-40 lakh, including salary -- more than Tk 3 lakh a month when averaged over a year. But that raises a pertinent question: will all domestic cricketers have a realistic opportunity to earn that amount, or will the increase primarily benefit those who already feature regularly in the national team, ‘A’ team and top-tier domestic competitions?

Messi’s relationship with Argentina was built through repeated disappointments. He reached the 2014 World Cup final and lost to Germany. He then suffered defeats in the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals against Chile. Having lost three consecutive major finals, Messi announced his international retirement. However, it wasn’t meant to be the end as he reversed his decision a couple months later and so began the quest for the unfinished business.

On his first overseas tour, the 30-year-old has emerged as a standout performer, taking 20 wickets in six matches, including a five-wicket haul against NT Strike on Friday that helped secure the Bangladeshi side’s semifinal spot. Rubel recently spoke to The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan about his unlikely rise, his first overseas experience and his hopes of reaching the national team, and more.

Chief selector Habibul Bashar described the performance as “disappointing” but said Bangladesh were “not alarmed”.

Renshaw’s inclusion is not solely a reaction to Weatherald’s failure.