BCB announces 14-man ODI squad against Pakistan

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the 14-member squad for the three-match ODI series against Pakistan which is scheduled to kick off on April 17 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The only uncapped player of this squad is Rony Talukder, who has been picked for the first two ODIs.

The 24-year-old right-hand batsman Rony Talukder is supposed to make open with the bat. His domestic performance has helped him to make a place in the squad. He scored 777 runs with three centuries at an average of 70.64 in first class National Cricket League.

Chief selector, Faruk Ahmed, named pacer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza as captain and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan as vice captain for limited-over format. However, Shakib Al Hasan will have to lead the team in the first ODI in the absence of regular captain as he was handed a one-match ban by the ICC after his second slow over-rate offence of the World Cup in the quarter-final match against India.

Players who have been dropped from the squad are Imrul Kayes, Al-Amin Hossain, Shafiul Islam and Taijul Islam. Imrul Kayes was not picked in the squad considering his poor run of form in the World Cup. Taijul Islam was left out considering that he will be of less effective in the condition against Pakistan.

Opening batsman, Enamul Haque Junior, who sustained shoulder injury during the World Cup, went under surgery and is yet to recover from injury. It is yet to decide who will make open with Tamim Iqbal. All-rounder Abul Hasan has been recalled after long time.

All the ODI matches will be played at the same venue. After ODI series, both teams will play the only T20 match at the same venue on April 24. Then Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in the first Test at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on April 28 and the second and final Test will be played at Mirpur on May 6.

Bangladesh Squad: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Capt), Shakib Al Hasan (Vice Capt), Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper), Mominul Haque, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Rony Talukdar, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Abul Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Arafat Sunny.