Bangladesh’s pace bowling coach, Shaun Tait, spoke to the media on Monday ahead of the decisive third T20 against Ireland, representing the team but sidestepping questions about selection decisions. As expected, several questions regarding the national squad came his way, but the former Australian fast bowler repeatedly made it clear that he was not part of the selection panel.
The series stands level at 1-1, and Tuesday’s encounter at Chattogram’s Bir Sreshtho Shaheed Lt. Matiur Rahman Stadium will decide the outcome. This match is Bangladesh’s final bilateral T20 before the T20 World Cup in February.
With the series providing the last opportunity to finalise combinations and test potential options for the World Cup, the squad selection saw Mahidul Islam included for the first two T20s, replacing Shakib Hossain. However, Mahidul did not feature in the playing eleven in either match. For the final T20, Shakib has been brought back into the team, while Mahidul remains in the squad.
When asked why Mahidul was not included in the first two games, Tait politely deferred responsibility, stating, “I’m not a selector. You need to ask those who decide the team.”
Looking ahead, Bangladesh players will soon shift focus to the Bangladesh Premier League, which begins in the final week of December and concludes just a couple of weeks before the T20 World Cup.
Tait believes that the combination of the BPL and warm-up matches will provide adequate preparation for the World Cup. He acknowledged the inherent risk of injury during a month-long tournament but remained pragmatic: “I’m not worried about injuries. They can happen anytime, anywhere, and that’s beyond my control. The good thing is that players will gain competitive match experience ahead of the World Cup. My responsibility is ensuring the pace bowlers are prepared; the tournament schedule and injuries are not something I can control.”