Bangladesh Announces Squad Resting Key Players for New Zealand ODI Series. Bangladesh Resting Key Players for New Zealand ODI Series.
Bangladesh rest key players for New Zealand ODI series
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has unveiled its 15-member squad for the first two One Day Internationals (ODIs) against New Zealand, slated to take place later this month. In a strategic move, Bangladesh has opted to rest several crucial players, aiming to carefully manage their workload in preparation for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023ICC World Cup 2023: ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
In the absence of Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das will assume the role of captain for the first two ODIs. Notable among those given a break are the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim, the talented Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and the formidable pace trio comprising Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Shoriful Islam.
Despite these player absences, Bangladesh will maintain a reservoir of experience. The return of Tamim Iqbal, Mahmud Ullah, Soumya Sarkar, and Nurul Hasan Sohan will ensure that the team retains its competitive edge.
Adding an element of excitement, Bangladesh has included three uncapped players in the squad: the left-handed batsman Zakir Hasan, the pacer Khaled Ahmed, and the leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. These talented individuals are on the cusp of making their ODI debuts during the upcoming series.
Regrettably, Naim Sheikh, Afif Hossain, and Shamim Hossain, who were part of the Asia Cup squad, will not feature in these ODIs.
Bangladesh Resting Key Players for New Zealand ODI Series
The squad for the first two ODIs against New Zealand is as follows:
- Litton Das (Captain)
- Tamim Iqbal
- Soumya Sarkar
- Anamul Haque
- Tawhid Hridoy
- Mahmud Ullah
- Nurul Hasan Sohan
- Mahedi Hasan
- Nasum Ahmed
- Mustafizur Rahman
- Tanzim Hasan
- Tanzid Hasan
- Zakir Hasan
- Rishad Hossain
- Khaled Ahmed
Minhajul Abedin, Chairman of the National Selection Panel, shed light on the squad selection, stating, “The decision to rest players was taken in consideration of the World Cup in India, which will be a long tournament where ensuring the mental and physical fitness of the cricketers will be very important. The series against New Zealand provides us an opportunity to take a look at some other players as well ahead of this major event.“
He continued, “The squad is a blend of experience and youth, and only Zakir, Khaled, and Rishad have not featured in ODIs yet. Zakir was very close to playing against Ireland in March before he suffered an unfortunate injury. Khaled has done well in his List A career, and Rishad offers a different dimension to our bowling attack.”
The ODI series against New Zealand is scheduled to be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, with the following fixtures:
- 1st ODI: September 21
- 2nd ODI: September 23
- 3rd ODI: September 26
This series will not only provide Bangladesh with valuable insights but also serve as a platform for emerging talents to prove their mettle on the international stage. As the cricketing world eagerly awaits these encounters, the blend of experience and youth in the squad promises an exciting showdown against New Zealand.