The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced yesterday that the team for the upcoming Asia Cup will have 17 players.
After playing well for Bangladesh A in the Emerging Asia Cup, opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim was given his first call-up to the national team. The left-handed batter got 179 runs in four games, with three scores of 50 or more. He is one of the first three hitters, along with Liton Das and Mohammad Naim.
Mahmudullah Riyad’s possible addition was a big topic of conversation because of his experience. However, the BCB left the senior out and chose Afif Hossain and Shamim Hossain for the lower middle-order part instead.
Shamim, who hasn’t played in an ODI yet, might get the nod because Afif hasn’t done well in recent games.
Sheikh Mahedi, an off-spinner, is back with the national team after a year away. He will play for the Tigers in a 50-over game after more than two years.
Nasum Ahmed and Taijul Islam were both in the running to be the second left-arm spin bowler, but Nasum Ahmed was chosen. Taijul Islam was put on watch.
The pace group was the most stable, and none of the five projected candidates—Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, and Mustafizur Rahman—were a surprise.
Bangladesh’s first Asia Cup game is on August 31 in Kandy against Sri Lanka.