Also read: Rohit to captain India for Sri Lanka T20 tri-series
Four others had made their debut in the series in the shape of all-rounder Ariful Haque, seamer Abu Jayed, spinner Mehedi Hasan and wicketkeeper-batsman Zakir Hasan. Ariful and Jayed are also unlikely to be axed. However, Saifuddin, who was severely criticised for his below-par performance, is likely to sit out the series and make way for right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed. Taskin was dropped from all three formats earlier this year, following his mediocre performance in the Champions Trophy 2017 and Bangladesh’s tour of South Africa. On the other hand, rumour of veteran pacer Mashrafe bin Mortaza returning to T20Is from retirement will ultimately prove to be baseless. The BCB president Nazmul Hasan following Bangladesh’s disastrous performance in the T20I series earlier this month informed that the board requested Mashrafe to reconsider his decision and come back to the format. It is understood that Mashrafe is unlikely to change his mind. The experienced pacer made a surprise retirement from the shortest format during their tour of Sri Lanka last year. Mashrafe had come to the decision following reported occurrences in the dressing room involving the then Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.
