Bangladesh have called up uncapped left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed for their 15-man squad for the upcoming two-match Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim and all-rounder Saifuddin make a return to the squad, but selectors left out batsmen Mohammad Mithun and Nazmul Hossain, and pace bowler Rubel Hossain.
Mushfiq skipped Bangladesh's previous T20I series in Pakistan over safety concerns, while Saifuddin has been out of action since July with a back injury.
Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said they called up 25-year old Nasum as a back-up.
All attention will be on outgoing @BCBtigers ODI captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza when his side take on visitor @ZimCricketv in the third and final ODI of the series at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Friday.https://t.co/Hm4Cnsve42#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) March 5, 2020
"Nasum was always in our consideration since he did well in the last BPL," he said, referring to the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League, the country's domestic T20 tournament.
The two T20Is will be held in Dhaka's Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Monday and Wednesday.
Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe by an innings and 106 runs in a one-off Test match, and are currently leading the three-match ODI series 2-0 after winning the first two games by 169 runs and four runs respectively.
Squad: Mahmudullah (C), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Naim, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, Hasan Mahmud and Nasum Ahmed
