Mumbai: Virat Kohli is one among six Indians named in the Asia XI side for their T20 internationals against a World XI in Dhaka next month.
Kohli’s name was announced alongside those of KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami by the BCB president Nazmul Hassan for the two-match series as part of the birth centenary celebrations of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, often referred to as the father of the nation.
Kohli’s participation, however, isn’t a given yet, with an ESPNcricinfo report stating that the Board of Control for Cricket in India is awaiting confirmation from India’s captain, whose workload management is a sensitive subject.
India have a packed season. After the conclusion of their ongoing tour of New Zealand on 4 March, they host South Africa for three ODIs, before the Indian Premier League begins at the end of the month.
“We have already received four names from India,” Hassan said. “We haven’t signed contracts, but Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan and Shami are supposed to come. They have said KL Rahul and Virat Kohli will play one game each, but that hasn’t been finalised.
“Players like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have finalised with us, from Afghanistan. Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane will play, while from Sri Lanka, we will have Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera. From Bangladesh, we will have Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahmudullah and Liton Das.
“I don’t remember all the names, but we will have three or four players from South Africa. Definitely, there will be the same number of players from West Indies. Australia and New Zealand will be playing, but we will try to find some [players]. Bairstow is definitely coming. Ngidi is coming. Chris Gayle is supposed to play. Faf du Plessis. We will have some of the best players around. We are uncertain about Pakistan since the PSL is will be ongoing. We will invite some of the cricketing greats.”
Preliminary squads:
Asia XI: KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Sandeep Lamichhane, Mahmudullah
World XI: Alex Hales, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis, Nicholas Pooran, Brendan Taylor, Jonny Bairstow, Kieron Pollard, Sheldon Cottrell, Lungi Ngidi, Andrew Tye, Mitchell McClenaghan