Online Reporter
TOWHID Hridoy will captain Bangladesh in the upcoming three-match T20I cricket series against Zimbabwe after Litton Kumar Das was granted leave to participate in the Lanka Premier League, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board on Wednesday announcing a 15-member squad featuring the recall of in-form all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain.
Litton, along with Taskin Ahmed, has been allowed to miss the series to fulfil his Lanka Premier League commitments.
The three matches will be played in Bulawayo on July 15, 17 and 19.
Mosaddek returns to the T20I set-up after impressing in the recent ODI series against Australia, where he scored 157 runs across three matches to force his way back into the selectors’ plans.
Yasir Ali also returns to the T20I squad after nearly three years, having last featured in the format against Pakistan during the Asian Games in October 2023.
Mohammad Saifuddin is back after missing the home series against Australia, while Shamim Hossain has been rested owing to his lean run with the bat.
“We picked Mosaddek as he is carrying a good form with the bat while he can also be handy as an off-spinner,” BCB chief selector Habibul Bashar told Cricbuzz on Wednesday.
“As for Yasir Ali, we feel we need someone down the order who can clear the ropes at will,” he said, adding that the selectors are keen to identify a pace-bowling all-rounder, which prompted Saifuddin’s recall.
“We want to go with two pacers and one pace-bowling all-rounder. We tried that combination against Australia, and we will try it again. So that’s where Saifuddin comes in,” he said.
Bashar said Shamim had been rested because of his prolonged lean patch. He also revealed that Najmul Hossain Shanto’s name had come up during selection discussions after Litton’s absence created a vacancy at the top of the order.
“Shamim hasn’t been scoring runs in his last 9-10 innings. We are giving him a break so that he can rediscover his form,” he said. “Shanto’s name was discussed but could not make it this time, but I am sure we will play a few more series before the next World Cup and we will have the chance to see him as well.”
-cricbuzz.com
