Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has made a comeback as Bangladesh have announced their 24-member preliminary squad separately for ODIs and Tests for the upcoming West Indies series. On the other hand, they have dropped veteran fast bowler and former skipper Mashrafe Mortaza from the series.
This is the first time since making his debut in 2001, Mortaza has been dropped from an ODI squad. However, previously, he missed a lot of series owing to injuries. The decision on 37-year-old Mortaza has come at a significant time as the Bangladesh team builds towards the ODI World Cup.
Chief selector of Bangladesh Cricket Team Minhajul Abedin said the decision on Mortaza was a collective one, taken by the selectors and the team management.
“We respect him, he has done a lot for the country,” Abedin said. “I have spoken to him in detail, so there’s not going to be any misunderstanding. It was a tough decision but we have to consider the reality and keep looking forward. We took a combined decision after long discussions with team management and considering everything [decided to] to put off Mashrafe.
We discussed everything. We didn’t leave anything out. Everyone participated in the discussion including the fitness trainer and bowling coach. For the player who replaces him, it will be a fresh start. We have to expose our young players,” he added.
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Shakib Al Hasan returns after one year
Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan has been added to both ODI and Test squad. The all-rounder returns to the national reckoning after his one-year ban by ICC for not reporting a corrupt approach. Shakib was Bangladesh’s Test and T20I captain before his ban but now returns as an ordinary player.
Those selected will, from next week, take part in a training camp and play two practice matches on January 14 and 16, before the squad is trimmed closer to the ODI series that begins on January 20.
Bangladesh’s preliminary squad for West Indies series
ODI – Tamim Iqbal (capt), Momimul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mustafizur Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Mohammad Mithun, Taijul Islam, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Yasir Ali, Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Nayeem Hasan, Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain
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Test – Momimul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, Tamim Iqbal, Khaled Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mustafizur Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Mohammad Mithun, Taijul Islam, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Yasir Ali, Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Nayeem Hasan, Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain