BPL performance rewards Hridoy with national call-up

Towhid Hridoy was rewarded for his Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) performance as the right-hander made the cut in the 14-member Bangladesh ODI squad for the first two matches of the upcoming three-match ODI series against England.

Hridoy, who scored 403 runs in 12 innings with an impressive strike-rate of 140.41 to remain as the third-highest run-getter in BPL's ninth edition, was the only fresh face in the squad. 

Meanwhile, captain Tamim Iqbal returned after missing the last home ODI series against India in December last year.

Apart from Tamim, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam also returned to the ODI team. The selectors dropped Anamul Haque, Yasir Ali, Nasum Ahmed, and Nurul Hasan Sohan, who were part of the 16-member ODI squad for the India series.

The first and second ODIs are scheduled to take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Mirpur on March 1 and March 3, respectively, before the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) in Chattogram hosts the third ODI on March 6.

The England team, who is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on February 24, will also play three T20Is against the Tigers, starting from March 9.

BANGLADESH SQUAD

Tamim Iqbal (Captain), Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain, Taijul Islam, and Towhid Hridoy.