The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has unveiled the squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, blending experienced campaigners with some surprise inclusions.
In a notable move, right-arm spinner Aliss Al Islam has earned his maiden call-up to the national T20I squad, complementing the return of veteran all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad, whose recent form merits his selection.
However, the decision to overlook spinners like Mehidy Hasan Miraz or Tanvir Islam for the T20Is raises questions, especially given Aliss Al Islam's relatively modest T20 record of 19 wickets in 24 matches.
Additionally, the absence of Afif Hossain and Shamim Hossain, who featured in the previous T20I series against New Zealand, adds another layer of intrigue to the selection process.
The series against Sri Lanka kicks off on March 4th with the first T20I at Sylhet International Stadium, followed by two more matches at the same venue on March 6th and 9th.
Subsequently, the action moves to Chattogram for the ODIs on March 13th, 15th, and 18th, setting the stage for an intriguing contest between the two sides.
After the white-ball encounters, attention will turn to the longer format, with a two-match test series scheduled to commence on March 22nd in Chattogram and March 30th in Sylhet.
Here are the squads:
**T20I squad:**
- Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain)
- Litton Das
- Anamul Haque Bijoy
- Mohammad Naim
- Tawhid Hridoy
- Soumya Sarkar
- Mahedi Hasan
- Mahmullah Riyad
- Taijul Islam
- Rishad Hossain
- Taskin Ahmed
- Mustafizur Rahman
- Shoriful Islam
- Tanzim Hasan Sakib
- Aliss Al Islam
**ODI squad (for the first and second matches):**
- Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain)
- Anamul Haque Bijoy
- Soumya Sarkar
- Tanzid Hasan Tamim
- Litton Das
- Mushfiqur Rahim
- Tawhid Hridoy
- Mahmudullah Riyad
- Mehidy Hassan Miraz
- Taijul Islam
- Rishad Hossain
- Taskin Ahmed
- Shoriful Islam
- Tanzim Hasan Sakib
- Mustafizur Rahman
This lineup aims to strike a balance between youth and experience, offering a blend of talent across all formats.
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