Opener Tamim Iqbal is all set to make his return to international cricket as the left-hander was included in Bangladesh’s 15-member squad for the first two matches of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in Mirpur, starting from September 21.
Liton Das will lead the team in the first two matches as regular skipper Shakib Al Hasan has been rested along with Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, and the pace trio of Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Shoriful Islam.
The former Bangladesh skipper Tamim recovered from his back injury to make a cut in the team ahead of the World Cup after he withdrew his decision to retire from international cricket in July.
Mahmudullah Riyad also got his name in the list after all the discussion regarding his future.
The right-hander was dropped following the ODIs against England at home last March due to poor performances and with his axing from the Asia Cup squad, the 37-year-old, already retired from Tests and T20Is, many left ponderings if he had already played his last game in Bangladesh colours.
Soumya Sarkar and Nurul Hasan Sohan also returned to the side. The uncapped players in the squad are left-hander Zakir Hasan, pacer Khaled Ahmed, and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.
The National Selection Panel Chairman Minhajul Abedin said: “The decision to rest players was taken in consideration of the World Cup in India which will be a long tournament where ensuring the mental and physical fitness of the cricketers will be very important. The series against New Zealand provides us an opportunity to take a look at some other players as well ahead of this major event.
“The squad is a blend of experience and youth and only Zakir, Khaled and Rishad have not featured in ODIs yet. Zakir was very close to playing against Ireland in March before he suffered an unfortunate injury. Khaled has done well in his list A career and Rishad offers a different dimension to our bowling attack.”
The Bangladesh team will commence training on 19 September at the SBNCS, Mirpur:
SQUAD (for 1st and 2nd ODI)
Liton Das (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Sheikh Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Zakir Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Khaled Ahmed.
