Mosaddek back in Bangladesh squad

Bangladesh on Sunday recalled batsman Mosaddek Hossain in its 15-man squad for the three-match Twenty20 series against Afghanistan in India next month.

Mosaddek, who has not played T20Is for more than a year, replaces batsman Imrul Kayes for Bangladesh’s first-ever bilateral series against Afghanistan in the shortest format.

“Mosaddek is a very talented player. He had a bad patch in the middle, but we included him after consulting with the coach about his fitness,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin.

Injury concerns

Selectors also had “injury concerns” about Mehedi Hasan and felt Mosaddek’s spin could prove useful.

Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed and wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan, both part of an extended Bangladesh squad in its last T20 engagement in Sri Lanka, have been dropped.

Afghanistan will host Bangladesh for the inaugural series in the Indian city of Dehradun from June 3 to 7.

It is something of a warm-up for Afghanistan as it prepares for its first-ever Test against India in Bengaluru from June 14 to 18.

Afghanistan is ranked eighth in T20Is, two places ahead of Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh squad:

Shakib Al Hasan (capt.), Mahmudullah Riyad, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Ariful Haque, Mehedi Hasan, Nazmul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Hider, Rubel Hossain and Abu Jayed.