T20 squad named for Pak tour

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday announced a 15-member squad, featuring the uncapped right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud, for the T20I series against Pakistan which will begin on January 24 in Lahore.

Mahmud enjoyed a rather successful Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League campaign with Dhaka Platoon, scalping 10 wickets in 13 matches to help his side reach the tournament’s last four stage.

Mahmudullah Riyad, who led the Tigers during their three-match T20I series in India last November, will remain at the helm for the upcoming series.

And although the men in red and green will be without the services of stalwart Mushfiqur Rahim, who opted out due to security concerns, veteran batsman Tamim Iqbal is set to make his national return after having last played for Bangladesh during their three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka last July.

Tamim had turned down the following tour of India on personal grounds.

Although Taijul Islam, Arafat Sunny, Mosaddek Hossain and Abu Hider were all included in the T20 series against India, they were excluded for the Pakistan tour while Rubel Hossain, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mahadi Hasan were recalled to the side.

The Tigers will leave for Lahore on January 22 following a three-day training camp, scheduled to begin today.