Hosts Bangladesh ODI team reached Chattogram on Sunday morning for the three-match series against visitors Afghanistan. The two teams are scheduled to lock horns in the first ODI at Chattogram’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium on Wednesday.
Led by Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal, the squad travelled to the port city along with head coach Russell Domingo. The team later in the evening had practice session at ZACS.
However, star all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman and team director Khaled Mahmud are to join the team on Monday. It is understood that the trio took an extra day to rest having been busy with the finale of the just concluded Bangladesh Premier League T20 2022. Shakib in the final played for Fortune Barishal while Mustafizur finished as champions playing for Comilla Victorians. Former Bangladesh cricketer and current BCB director Mahmud was head coach of Barishal.
The 15-member squad for the ODI series involves four uncapped names in fast bowler Ebadot Hossain, spinner Nasum Ahmed, batters Yasir Ali and Mahmudul Hasan Joy. Ebadot, Yasir and Mahmudul have played Tests for Bangladesh before, while Nasum has played T20Is.
Bangladesh national head coach Domingo returned Dhaka on Saturday after more than a month-long break that he enjoyed after Bangladesh’s tour of New Zealand in January.
Domingo has returned to the dressing room with changes in coaching setup. Fast bowling coach Ottis Gibson and batting coach Ashwell Prince both left the Bangladesh job following tour of New Zealand. Ottis had informed Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB] of his decision to not renew his contract – while on tour of New Zealand.
On the other hand, Prince is understood to have left the job due to insecurity after BCB signed Jamie Siddons as batting consultant. It was however later revealed that former Bangladesh head coach Siddons had signed papers with BCB for the role as batting coach of the national team and also guide other teams when needed.
Bangladesh will return to one-day fold on Wednesday while the second and the third matches of the series will be played on February 25 and 28 respectively. All the matches will be played at ZACS.
The three ODIs between Afghanistan and hosts Bangladesh are part of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League. Bangladesh, as of February 11 standings, are in the second position in the table with eight wins and 80 points from 12 games. England are in the top of the table with nine wins and 95 points in 15 games. India and Ireland are at number three and number four with 79 and 68 points respectively.
The ODI series will be followed by a two-match T2Is scheduled to played at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on March 3 and 5.