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Naimur Rahman turns down Bangladesh offer
Former skipper Naimur Rahman has turned down an offer to join the Bangladesh team for the remaining matches in the tri-series.
Apparently peeved over the selectors decision to ignore him for the World Cup in South Africa, former Bangladesh captain Naimur Rahman has turned down an offer to join the team for the remaining matches in the TVS Cup triangular one-day series as a replacement for injured pacer Talha Jubair.
Injury to Jubair, who pulled out without playing a single match, had prompted the selectors to ask Rahman to join the team but the all-rounder has declined to accept the offer on "fitness grounds."
Chief selector Aliul Islam had asked Rahman whether he was prepared to play in the triangular series but the former captain said he was not "physically and mentally fit for international cricket at the moment".
Media reports here suggested that he declined to join the team as he was unwilling to come in as a stop-gap option.
Rahman, who has been in good form in domestic cricket, would not only have provided more depth to the batting but is also a genuine off-spinner.
The local media said Rahman could have spurned the offer out of sheer frustration after he was overlooked for the World Cup despite a very consistent performance at the domestic level. He was also not considered for the TVS Cup team which came as another surprise.
Had Rahman opted to play for the national team, the current team would have had three former captains in the ranks. Akram Khan and Khaled Mashud, who was removed from the hot seat after the World Cup, are in the team led by Khaled Mahmud.
