No Tamim as Bangladesh name Shakib-led squad for World Cup

Following a night full of drama and rumors, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Tuesday announced a 15-member squad, to be led by Shakib Al Hasan and excluding opener Tamim Iqbal, for the upcoming World Cup in India. 

BCB unveiled the World Cup squad through a video posted on its social media page. The 15 selected for the mega event were presented with the World Cup jersey in the video but the BCB did not mention any reason behind the exclusion of Tamim from the squad.  

A BCB source had earlier informed The Daily Star that Shakib communicated to the board that he would like to step down as the captain of the side as he does not want unfit players in the World Cup squad.

Shakib, however, retained his position as the skipper while Tamim, who has been suffering from a back injury that saw him out of the Asia Cup earlier this month, was not included in the squad. Tamim was also rested from the final ODI against New Zealand today.  

Veteran Mahmudullah Riyad has also been included in the squad, having made a return to the national fold after more than a five-month gap through the ongoing New Zealand series. 

Riyad scored a 49-run knock in the second game, which Bangladesh lost by 86 runs after the first ODI was washed out. Riyad scored a 27-ball 21 in today's final ODI against the Kiwis.   

In-form batter Najmul Hossain Shanto, who led the Tigers for the first time in the third ODI against New Zealand today, has been named as the vice-captain of the side for the World Cup. Shanto continued his purple patch with the bat, marking his debut as the national team captain with a 76-run knock.  

As expected, Taskin Ahmed will be leading the Tigers' pace attack, also including Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib. 

Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim was also included in the squad. 

Bangladesh Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto (vc), Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Towhid Hridoy, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mahmudullah Riyad