BCB announces Bangladesh ODI squad for West Indies series; Shakib Al Hasan set to return

Shakib Al Hasan is all set to return to international cricket after the experienced campaigner was named in the Bangladesh ODI squad for the home series against the West Indies. On Saturday, Bangladesh Cricket Board announced an 18-member side for the series which is due to begin on January 20. This will be Shakib’s comeback series after serving a ban of one year from the International Cricket Council, after failing to report an approach made by a match-fixer. 

Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza was left out of the provisional side of 24 players which was named a few days ago. However, the BCB selectors also named three uncapped players, Off-spinner Mahadi Hasan and pace bowlers Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam. 

 Rubel and Taskin also back in the ODI squad along with Shakib Al Hasan

In an interaction after the announcement, the chief selector of the Bangladesh team also said how happy the team is by having Shakib back. Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed have also made a comeback to the ODI squad. 

“Naturally we are delighted to have Shakib Al Hasan back in the squad as we all know he is a game-changer and we are expecting him to return to his best very soon. We have picked Rubel Hossain as he bowled well in the domestic tournament while Taskin was injured earlier but now as he is fit and the way he is bowling, we felt that he deserves a chance,” Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

The reason why Mashrafe Mortaza was not included in the squad

Abedin also addressed the absence of Mashrafe Mortaza and the addition of three uncapped players. “We have said earlier that the provisional squad was the reflection of our plan of action and that is why we could not include Mashrafe in it. Mahedi has been performing really well for the last two years and we feel it is the right time for him to get some exposure. As far as the pace duo is concerned both of them are bowling really fast and that impressed us a lot which paved their way into the squad,” Abedin added. 

The Caribbean side has arrived in Bangladesh to play three ODIs and two Tests. The first two ODIs will be played in Dhaka on January 20 and 22. The final match will be played at Chattogram on January 25. The first Test will start on February 3 while the second will begin on February 11. 

Bangladesh ODI squad: Tamim Iqbal (C), Shakib Al Hasan, Najmul Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Litton Das, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saiffudin, Mahadi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam