The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is currently finalizing their central contracts, with uncertainty surrounding the inclusion of any player in the A-plus category this time around, particularly Taskin Ahmed. Taskin, known for his all-format bowling skills, has not participated in Test cricket for a while, last appearing in a Test match in November 2024 in Kingston, West Indies. He missed subsequent Test series against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Ireland due to ongoing concerns about his red-ball future, stemming from past injuries.
BCB’s chief physician, Debashish Chowdhury, mentioned that Taskin’s return to the longer format hinges on further medical evaluations, emphasizing the need for him to prioritize his well-being before resuming Test cricket. Taskin’s desire to play across all formats is acknowledged by BCB, but his physical condition, marred by Achilles, knee, and shoulder issues, necessitates caution in managing his workload to prevent exacerbating his injuries.
Last year, Bangladesh had 22 players on their central contract list, with plans to include six new players this year, bringing the total to 27. Mahmudullah Riyad will not be part of the upcoming list following his retirement from all forms of the game. The inclusion of Shakib Al Hasan in the contracts is pending further discussions between the player and senior BCB officials, with ongoing deliberations regarding his status causing a delay in finalizing the contracts.
While rumors circulated about the potential elimination of the A-plus category, BCB officials clarified that the category will persist but may not have any entrants if deemed unnecessary by selectors and the board. Despite reports of other cricket boards like Pakistan and India reconsidering their A-plus categories due to player decisions, BCB intends to retain the category based on merit and player performance.
Taskin being the sole cricketer playing across all formats in the previous year raises questions about BCB’s approach compared to other cricket boards that have reevaluated elite categories. The final decision on the central contracts, including the fate of the A-plus category, is expected to be announced soon by BCB officials.