Direct World Cup qualification top priority for Bashar

Newly elected chief selector Habibul Bashar said on Tuesday that his primary focus will be securing Bangladesh’s direct qualification for the 2027 Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Bangladesh, currently placed ninth in the ODI rankings, will be aiming to climb into the top eight before the cut-off date to ensure automatic qualification, with the side led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

“Focus definitely these series—I mean our first target is that we can qualify directly. That is the primary target,” Bashar told reporters when asked about his vision as chief selector. “But more important than that is that we are consistent in performance. Whether in team selection or in our performance, this will be a big focus definitely,” he added.

Bashar also stressed the need to expand the talent pool as Bangladesh prepare for a busy calendar featuring back-to-back series at home and abroad.

“And since there are many matches this year, I think we have to work with a long group. Back-to-back series are there. So we have to expand the players’ pool a bit more. And it should be such that bad cannot replace bad. Everyone should do well. If outside the 14–15 squad there are maybe 10 more or 15 more, working with this group is very important. If we can prepare this group very well, then I think we will not have problems,” he noted.

The former Bangladesh captain made it clear that expanding the pool would not come at the expense of results, insisting that the team’s priority will always remain winning matches.

“There are a few things—there are several aspects to your question. Bangladesh team play to win every match. There is nothing to sacrifice there. Whenever you build a team, you will send the team that can win. And when you think about the future, then some players you have to introduce. And it is best when you introduce one or two players alongside current players—it becomes easier for them,” he stated.

“When you bring all new players together, when you think of the World Cup—during the World Cup, if current players go off form in the last two-three months, then introducing a new player becomes difficult for him,” he explained.

Bashar emphasised that early integration of new players would be key, rather than making last-minute changes ahead of major tournaments.

“So doing these things earlier is better. We don’t want to try new players just prior to the World Cup. If you want to try someone, do it within this time, but not sacrificing that the team will not win—nothing like that. I don’t believe that. I think yes, we will definitely give opportunity to new ones, but not that just giving one chance. If someone is good, definitely that is a big advantage. Expanding the player pool—as I was saying—having many matches means having a bigger pool is very important,” he concluded.