Bangladesh Cricket Board announced squad for Asia Cup 2022
In various controversies, the Bangladesh team for the upcoming Asia Cup has been announced with Shakib Al Hasan as the captain.
Chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu announced the 17 member squad for the Asia Cup at Gulshan in the capital on Saturday afternoon.
Earlier, Jalal Yunus the new chairman of BCB's cricket operations committee, announced the name of Shakib Al Hasan as the captain of the Bangladesh team until the next T20 World Cup. Shakib will not only lead Bangladesh in the upcoming Asia Cup but also the Tri-Nation T20 series involving Pakistan and hosts New Zealand in October followed by the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir and all-rounder Saifuddin have come back to the fold while fast bowler Ebadat Hossain was given his maiden call in the format. This is the first time Ebadot Hossain has been included in the T20 squad.
Sabbir Rahman has been returned after a long time. Inclusion of middle-order batter Sabbir Rahman in the Asia Cup squad has been the biggest surprise. The right-hander is back in the national fold after three years having last played for Bangladesh in September 2019.
Chief of the national selection panel Minhajul Abedin while explaining Sabbir’s sudden inclusion said it was based on the cricketer’s experience though one can argue that the middle-order batter did not have a notable performance recently.
“Sabbir has been picked based on his experience in T20 cricket both in domestic and international. It was a combined decision involving the team management. We have injury concerns in the dressing room and thus need to keep an additional middle-order batter. He is currently touring the West Indies with the A team and will thus get the match experience and he has also been under nursing with the A team and Bangladesh Tigers program” said Minhajul.
Stumper-batter Nurul Hasan despite undergoing surgery on his fractured finger recently has been kept part of the squad.
“Nurul’s latest update is the doctors will reassess his condition on August 21. We kept him in the squad so that he can play if he recovers by the time the tournament starts” said Minhajul.
Bangladesh Asia Cup Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mahmudullah Riyad, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, Mohammad Saif Uddin, Hasan Mahmud, Mostafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nurul Hasan Sohan and Taskin Ahmed.
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