The Bangladesh Cricket Board has omitted all-rounder Shakib al Hasan and pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their 15-member squad for the initial three games of the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, set to take place in Chattogram from May 3.
Earlier, BCB had announced that Shakib would be unavailable for a couple of matches as the all-rounder, recently recovered from an eye problem, expressed a desire to participate in the Dhaka Premier League to gear up for international cricket.
Mustafizur, returning from the IPL after his final match against Punjab Kings on May 1, has also been left out of the squad for the first three fixtures.
Hannan Sarkar, a member of the BCB selection panel, explained that Shakib’s preference for playing in the DPL led to the inclusion of Afif Hossain in the squad.
“Shakib is expected to arrive on April 30 and intends to play two DPL games.
We believe this will afford him valuable preparation time, especially considering the fast-paced nature of T20 cricket,” said Hannan on Sunday.
Regarding Mustafizur, Hannan stated, “Mustafizur has been playing continuously for an extended period.
After participating in the BPL and the Sri Lanka T20 series, followed by his stint in the IPL, he requires both mental and physical recovery.
Our chief selector discussed the matter with him, and he requested some time off during a portion of the series.
As a result, he has not been included in the squad for the first three games.
However, we may consider him for the latter part of the series, potentially for the last two T20Is.”
The squad includes uncapped opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim, along with the return of opener Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanvir Islam, Afif Hossain, and Mohammad Saifuddin.
Notably absent from the squad are opener Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mohammad Naim, Soumya Sarkar, Aliss Al Islam, and Taijul Islam, who featured in the previous T20I series against Sri Lanka at home in February.
Explaining the selections, Hannan said, “Tanzid Tamim has yet to make his debut, but we believe he shows promise and possesses the ability to excel in T20 cricket, hence his inclusion.
Parvez Emon has only played one T20I so far, and we are keen to see more of him, particularly given his performances in other tournaments, such as the Asian Games.”
“Soumya is still recovering from an injury and has not fully regained fitness, which is why he has not been included in the three-match squad.
We will reassess his situation after consulting with the medical team,” Hannan added.
“We consider Saifuddin as an all-rounder, and we have plans to utilize him in the Zimbabwe series, hoping that he will fulfill his role effectively in the middle order.”
Bangladesh Squad:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain) |
| Litton Kumer Das |
| Tanzid Hasan Tamim |
| Towhid Hridoy |
| Mahmudullah |
| Jaker Ali Anik |
| Shak Mahedi Hasan |
| Rishad Hossain |
| Taskin Ahmed |
| Shoriful Islam |
| Tanzim Hasan Sakib |
| Parvez Hossain Emon |
| Tanvir Islam |
| Afif Hossain |
| Shaifuddin |
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