Shaikat surprise for Afghan series

Photo: Star file

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the 13-member squad for the first and second one-day international matches against Afghanistan today.

BCB announced the squad where the inclusion of uncapped Mosaddek Hossain Shaikat was one of the talking points after the press conference concluded, reports our correspondent. Al-Amin Hossain was not picked while Taskin Ahmed was not eligible for selection as the report of his bowling-action test at Brisbane has not been released.

Bangladesh squad:

Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Taijul Islam, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mosaddek Hossain Shaikat, Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman and Nasir Hossain.

The Afghanistan national cricket team arrived yesterday to take part in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh starting from September 25 at the Sher-e- Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.

The three matches between Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be played on September 25, 28 and October 1.

Earlier, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had confirmed that the three ODIs between Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be day-night encounters and are to commence at 2:30 pm.

BCB director Jalal Yunus affirmed that the games would in fact be day-night affairs. This series will be Bangladesh's first ODI series of the year.

Bangladeshi players in a huddle before the start of a game. File Photo: Firoz Ahmed