No place for Mashrafe as BCB announces team for West Indies series

DHAKA –The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today announced the preliminary ODI and Test squads for the home series against West Indies.

Veteran pacer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who was the part of ODI team in Bangladesh’s last International series against Zimbabwe was left out from the squad as BCB wants to focus on to build a team for 2023 World Cup, said chief selector Minhazul Abedin Nannu.

“The focus is firmly on building a team for the 2023 World Cup. We have talked to Mashrafe regarding this matter and he has no grudge over it,” Minhazul said here today after announcing the team.

The 37-year old Mashrafe stepped down from the ODI captaincy after the series against Zimbabwe.

Shakib Al Hasan is usually back into the squad after being available for International cricket following the completion of his ban.

Along with Taskin Ahmed, Yasir Ali Chowdhury was also back to the squad. Parvez Hossain Emon, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud and Nasum Ahmed are four new faces who made their way into the 24-member preliminary ODI squad.

Yasir Ali and Hasan Mahmud however made the cut in the 20-member preliminary Test squad as new faces.

But there is still no place for veteran Mahmudullah Riyad in the Test squad.

Preliminary ODI squad: Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohamad Mithun, Liton Das, Mahmudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Soumya Sarkar, Yasri Ali, Naim Sheikh, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mahedi Hasan, Rubel Hossain.

Preliminary Test squad:Mominul Haque, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohamad Mithun, Liton Das, Saif Hasan, Abu Jayed Rahi,Yasri Ali, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman Taijul Islam, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shadman Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz.BSS