Mashrafe back, Afif, Naim picked in ODI squad

Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza got back into the fold alongside uncapped Afif Hossain and Mohammad Naim as Bangladesh Cricket Board made seven changes and declared 15-member Bangladesh squad for the first two ODIs against Zimbabwe.

Mashrafe will be in action for Bangladesh for the first time since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Bangladesh had played a three-match away series against Sri Lanka, in July last year, following the world event but the skipper missed the series due to injury. 

Afif, the 20-year-old all-rounder, who has played 10 T20Is for Bangladesh, recently scored a century batting in the middle order for East Zone in the first-class match against South Zone. Naim, the 20-year-old left-handed opening batsman, has also featured in five T20Is for Bangladesh, with a score of 43 in a T20I against Pakistan recently.

“It is great to have Mortaza back as his experience and leadership is vital to our one-day cricket. Saiduddin is also a key to the team’s balance,” said chief of the national selection panel Minhajul Abedin.

The three-match ODI series against @ZimCricketv in Sylhet next month will be the last for Mashrafe bin Mortaza as @BCBtigers ODI captain.https://t.co/rFMXLGYvge#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #ZIMBABWE #ZC #ZIMBABWECRICKET #MASHRAFE #MASH #MBM

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) February 19, 2020

“We had to make certain adjustments in the last ODI series as a number of cricketers were unavailable due to various reasons but I am happy that we now have a fit pool of players to select from. Shanto’s [Najmul Hossain] current form in international and domestic cricket gets him into the team while Naim and Afif are also part of our long term plan for the shorter version,” former Bangladesh captain added.

Afif has got into the squad at the back of a century in the ongoing Bangladesh Cricket League recently and that he has been able to sow some hope into the selectors with his all-round in 10 T20Is that he has played for Bangladesh. While 20-year-old Naim, has also played five T20Is for Bangladesh with a score of 43 against Pakistan recently.

Wicket-keeper batsman Liton Das, in-form top order batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto, pacer Al-Amin Hossain and pace all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin are the other inclusion in the team coming in place of Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Anamul Haque, Mosaddek Hossain, , Rubel Hossain, Farhad Reza and Taskin Ahmed.

As declared by BCB president Nazmul Hasan, Mashrafe is set to play his last series as Bangladesh ODI captain. Mashrafe’s future inclusion in Bangladesh ODI team will depend on his fitness and performances on the field.

The first two ODIs between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will be played on March 1 and 3 respectively followed by the third on March 6. All the matches will be played at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Squad:

Masrafe Bin Mortaza (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mahmudullah,  Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Litod Das, Taijul Islam, Afif Hossain, Naim Sheikh, Al Amin Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shafiul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman.