No Afif as Bangladesh announce squad for Ireland T20Is

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) did not include all-rounder Afif Hossain in the 14-member squad announced for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Ireland in Chattogram. 

Afif, who has not been amongst runs for the national side lately, was also excluded from the squad for the final ODI against Ireland. He was released by the team management to take part in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League, where he already played a game for Abahani Limited.

Also, wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan Sohan, who was included in the squad for the England T20Is but did not start any game in that series last month, has been dropped.   

However, pacer Shoriful Islam, who was also released from the team alongside Afif, makes a comeback to the T20I squad for the Ireland series. The 21-year-old pacer last played for Bangladesh in November last year when he featured against India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Australia. 

Bangladesh included two uncapped players -- leg spinner Rishad Hossain and wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik -- in the squad for the Ireland T20Is. 

The T20I series will begin on March 27. The second and third T20Is are slated for March 29 and 31. All three matches will be played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. 

Bangladesh squad for Ireland T20Is:
 
Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Liton Das, Rony Talukdar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Jaker Ali Anik