Nasir Hossain had been excluded from Bangladesh’s squad for the ongoing series against Zimbabwe © AFP
Nasir Hossain remains in contention for a spot in Bangladesh’s playing XI after being named in the team’s 25-member preliminary squad for the Asia Cup T20 and World T20. Nasir is among seven players in the list who are not part of the squad for the ongoing four-match T20 series against Zimbabwe.
Nasir was dropped altogether for the Zimbabwe matches following an underwhelming BPL campaign, as well as a poor outing during Bangladesh’s previous series against Zimbabwe last November.
Liton Das, Mohammad Mithun, Ariful Haque, Shafiul Islam, Abul Hasan and Kamrul Islam Rabbi are the other players who have been called up. The call-up is a first in the preliminary squad for Ariful, while Rabbi had previously been picked in the squad last year for the series against Zimbabwe, though he did not play any game.
The players will train in Khulna from January 23 to 31 before gathering again in Chittagong for a second training phase, from February 7 to 18. Bangladesh are scheduled to play eight practice matches among themselves during this time, and will return to Dhaka to start the Asia Cup, slated to begin on February 24.
Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim are supposed to be heading to the UAE to play in the PSL during the training period, while the BCB is also yet to decide on whether they will give Mustafizur Rahman the NOC to play in that tournament.
Bangladesh’s preliminary squad: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Nurul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shuvagata Hom, Ariful Haque, Arafat Sunny, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Hider Rony, Al-Amin Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Mohammad Sahid, Abul Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Muktar Ali
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo