Bangladesh is all set to face Afghanistan next month in a 3-match bilateral T20I series. This will be the first T20I bilateral series for Afghanistan with all their previous experience stemming from ICC Tournaments. Owing to the political instability that exists in Afghanistan, the series will be played in India and it will start from 3rd June at Dehradun.
Based on the performances delivered in the last T20I series that Bangladesh played, the national selectors have taken some tough calls. In the Nidahas Trophy played in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh managed to qualify for the Final ahead of the hosts Sri Lanka and were eventually beaten by India in the thrilling last-ball encounter.
This time, the selectors have decided to recall the batsman Mosaddek Hossain to the T20I squad. He has played 6 T2oIs for Bangladesh and has made 99 runs at the average of 19.80. He will be replacing Imrul Kayes, who did not get an opportunity to play in the tri-series.
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Wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan and the bowler Taskin Ahmed have also been dropped from the squad. Taskin was below par in the tri-series and proved expensive. Batsman Soumya Sarkar and pace bowler Abu Hider have been retained despite poor showings in the Nidahas Trophy, who made just 50 runs in five innings in the Nidahas Trophy. Abu Jayed – who didn’t get a game in the Nidahas Trophy has also been retained.
“We also had a question about Soumya but the captain [Shakib Al Hasan] and coach [Courtney Walsh] thought that it would be better to add him,” chief selector Minhajul Abedin said.
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Bangladesh and Afghanistan have played only one T20I against each other before. They met in the World T20 2014 at Dhaka where the home team defeated Afghanistan by 9 wickets. Bangladesh will now play Afghanistan on June 3, 5 and 7 in Dehradun.
Bangladesh T20 squad
Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Ariful Haque, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nazmul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Hider, Rubel Hossain, Abu Jayed
