The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the squad for the upcoming limited overs series in New Zealand. The number of members in the squad is 20. Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam have been dropped from the latest squad.
Shakib’s omission was imminent as he already took leave from the tour due to family reasons. However, Taijul lost his place in the limited overs team. Fast bowler Al Amin Hossain, off spinning all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and top order batsman Naim Sheikh have been added to the roaster.
Uncapped spinner Nasum Ahmed’s name in the 20-member team is the only surprising addition in the team. He was called up for the T20 series against Zimbabwe at home last year but did not get a chance to play. This time his fortune may open in New Zealand. The 26-year-old left-arm spinner has played 37 List A and 27 domestic Twenty20s.
Meanwhile, former ODI skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza was included in the last series against West Indies. He was also not considered for the ODIs on the New Zealand tour. He is the best ODI skipper of all time in the country. Therefore, he not being in the team for two consecutive series means the selectors are no longer thinking about this veteran right-handed pacer.
The Tigers will leave the country for New Zealand on February 23. Bangladesh will play three ODIs under the ICC World Cup Super League and an equal number of T20 matches against the Kiwis.
Squad: Tamim Iqbal Khan, Mosaddek Hossain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Mahmudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Naim Sheikh, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Al Amin Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Sheikh Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed.
