Shakib al Hasan, the skilled all-rounder, believes that there are various contenders vying for the number seven position in the Bangladesh one-day international squad, especially with the upcoming World Cup in India scheduled for October and November.
In recent times, Bangladesh has been testing Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the number seven position during the 50-over format since the home series against Ireland in March. The team management is keen to give him the finisher’s role, which has been previously held by different batsmen.

While Afif Hossain and Mahmudullah have lost their spots in the ODIs, they are still among the leading candidates to fill the number seven spot. Additionally, the team management included Yasir Ali in the squad for the recent three-match ODI series against Ireland in England, despite not including him in the playing XI.

On Monday, Shakib commented that, in his opinion, the competition for the number seven position is not centered on one particular player, but several players are in contention. He identified Afif Hossain, Mossadek Hossain, and Sohan Nurul Hasan, among others, as performing well in the domestic circuit. Riyad Mahmudullah is also playing brilliantly, and Rabbi is with the team, while Miraj is currently batting at seven.

Shakib acknowledged that with six to seven viable options for the number seven spot, the decision will be challenging for the coach, selectors, and captain to make, especially with the World Cup in mind. He expressed hope that the team management would settle on a candidate before the Asia Cup. Shakib emphasized that the team should back the decision made by the management, regardless of the outcome.

Although the Asia Cup is still uncertain due to current conditions, the Tigers are scheduled to play three ODIs against Afghanistan, making it crucial to fill the number seven position as soon as possible. Shakib acknowledged that the team is in the early stages and that the decisions made now will likely work out in the end.

According to Shakib, the right combination for the team will depend on the opposition and conditions during the World Cup. Different grounds will require varying numbers of pacers or bowlers, with some places needing four pacers, while others require only two. Furthermore, the team must consider several factors before making any decisions.

Shakib believes that the team must learn from past mistakes to ensure that they do not repeat them in the upcoming World Cup. He emphasized that the conditions are always fair in the ICC tournament, and the team must perform well in all departments to succeed. While other teams are improving, Bangladesh must also improve if they hope to compete with them.

However, Shakib is currently out of commission for six weeks due to a finger injury he sustained during the second ODI against Ireland. His injury makes him uncertain for the one-off Test series against Afghanistan, which is set for June 14.