Good performance in Pakistan will help players get into World Cup squad: Domingo

Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo felt that the tour of Pakistan would be a good litmus test for the players and a good performance in the Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) would greatly help their chances of making it to the T20 World Cup squad in Australia, later this year.

"Obviously some of these players can make a big call going to the World Cup squad. World Cup squad has not been finalised. There are several things we need to look at and this is a fine opportunity for these young cricketers to put their hand up," Domingo said a press-conference in Mirpur on Sunday.

Domingo also expressed his desire to keep Mahmudullah Riyad as the Bangladesh T20 team's captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

"I am hoping that he (Mahmudullah) is the guy to lead us in the World Cup. He has got my support. He has done a great job at India. I really enjoyed working with him since I have been here. He is a great professional. He is a world-class player and well respected in the change room. He is my guy to lead us in the world cup," added Domingo.

The former South Africa head coach also was happy to see young fast bowler Hasan Mahmud being included in the Bangladesh T20 squad that will tour Pakistan later this month and he was happy that the cricketing system was producing new players and increasing the squad depth.

"This is the first time I will be watching young Hasan Mahmud. I have seen some of his performances watched him closely and seen him in nets with the Emerging team. I'm looking forward to working with him. It's a young group of players which for me is exciting. It shows the depth in the system," Domingo explained.

Experienced batsman Mushfiqur Rahim opted out of the tours to Pakistan citing family reasons while opener Tamim Iqbal returns to the fold.

Domingo believes that will give him the opportunity to try out different combinations with the batting order for the upcoming series against Pakistan.

"We have got to look at how others play in the middle-order. A guy like Soumya (Sarkar) who batted at number three in India might end up batting at six. Mahmudullah (Riyad) may bat five. Afif (Hossain) might come in to bat at three or four. So we need to look at those type of things. Nazmul Hossain Shanto finished his (Bangladesh Premier League) campaign well. So there are lots of options to look at. You can only have two openers and the rest of them has to fill up the other places," Domingo concluded.