Sabbir, Taskin back in Tigers' fold

The national selectors yesterday named Sabbir Rahman in Bangladesh's 15-member ODI squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand in February, despite the batsman being in just the fifth month of a six-month ban from international cricket.

Pacer Taskin Ahmed also made a comeback to both ODI and Test squads, while young off-spinner Nayeem Hasan was the only new inclusion in the ODI squad.

Imrul Kayes was the surprise exclusion from the one-day side after the left-hander scored two hundreds and a fifty in the home series against Zimbabwe last year. However, after failing in the two games against West Indies in the following series, Imrul was dropped from the team.

All-rounder Ariful Haque, left-arm seamer Abu Hider and left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam were also dropped from the ODI squad that was picked for the West Indies series.

There was a lot of talk about the inclusion of Sabbir, who was banned for abusing a fan on social media. as his original ban was supposed to end on March 1, which would have ruled him out of the three-match ODI series in New Zealand ending on February 20.

The selectors however said that they received clearance from the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB's) disciplinary committee, which reduced Sabbir's ban by one month. The selectors also added that Bangladesh ODI skipper Mahsrafe bin Mortaza had urged the selectors to include the batsman.

The 15-member Test squad for the three-match Test series that will follow the ODI series in New Zealand was also named yesterday. Alongside Taskin, Tamim Iqbal also made a comeback after recovering from a left knuckle fracture, while pacer Abu Jayed was also recalled to the side.

Bangladesh will take part in the first match of the three-ODI series on February 13. The second and third matches will take place on February 16 and 20 respectively. The visitors will also take part in a three-Test series with the first one starting from February 28 and the other two matches scheduled for March 8 and 16 respectively.

15 member squad for first three ODIs:

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (capt), Shakib Al Hasan (Vice Captain), Tamim Iqbal,Liton Kumer Das, Soumya Sarker, Mushfiqur Rahim, Md Mithun, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehedi Miraz, Naeem Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Mohammed Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Sabbir Rahman