Bangladesh paceman Mashrafe Mortaza was unlucky to miss out on selection for the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Super Series against Australia later this year, coach Dav Whatmore said on Monday.
Whatmore said the selection panel, led by former India opener Sunil Gavaskar, missed an opportunity to help Bangladesh cricket by failing to pick a single player from the fledgling Test nation.
"I was really hoping Mashrafe Mortaza might have been in that one-day group," Whatmore told reporters. "I reckon he was a bit unlucky.
"I would have said (to the selectors) 'look mate, it's your initial squad and this kid can play'.
A select ICC group of 39 were picked earlier on Monday, including 21 players who have been shortlisted for both the one-off six-day Test and a three-match one-day series to be hosted by the world's top-ranked team in October.
The captains and vice-captains will be announced when the squads are reduced to 20 each in July. In the following month they will be trimmed to 14 players for the one-dayers and 13 for the Test.
HUGE BOOST
"It would have been a huge boost for him (Mortaza)," added Whatmore.
"He's coming from a team that's developing and it would be a huge shot in the arm for Bangladesh cricket generally and it would really help the whole country along."
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"Of course, I would have been ready," he said. "I have been playing international cricket, have already played 16 Tests, and I have played against every team except for West Indies."
Mortaza was thrilled at the prospect of Bangladesh's first full tour of England, especially the first Test at Lord's, which starts on May 26.
"I'm excited about Lord's," he said. "I have heard Lord's is the best ground in the world, so I am really excited."
