Sports Reporter :
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced on Tuesday the 15-member Bangladesh Cricket squad for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup (WC) scheduled to be held in the United States of America (USA) and the West Indies from June 1 to June 29. Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead Bangladesh Cricket team as the captain, while right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed will assist him as the vice-captain. As Taskin Ahmed has injury but the BCB has included him in the World Cup squad. Though Litton Das is out of for recently but the BCB believes Litton Das will end his run drought.
Chief Selector of the BCB Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu announced the Bangladesh Cricket squad at the Media Conference Room in the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in front of a good number of newsmen yesterday afternoon.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz was not included in the 15-member squad, while Mohammad Saifuddin has been dropped from the squad.
There is no gimmick in the 15-member Bangladesh Cricket squad.
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and experienced all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad have been included in the squad.
It may be mentioned that opener Tanzid Hasan, batter Towhid Hridoy, wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali, left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, right-arm spinner Rishad Hossain and right-arm pacer Tanzim Hasan will take part for the first time in a T20 World Cup.
Right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud and all-rounder Afif Hossain have not included in the 15-member Bangladesh Cricket squad. They will go to the ICC T20 World Cup match venues as the reserve players.
Before taking part in the ICC T20 World Cup, Bangladesh Cricket team will play three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against the hosts USA on May 21, May 23 and May 25 at Houston city in Texas.
Bangladesh are in Group-D with South Africa, Sri Lanka, Netherlands and Nepal.
Bangladesh will start their ICC T20 World Cup campaign after taking part Sri Lanka on June 7 at Dallas in Texas. Bangladesh will face South Africa in New York on June 10. Bangladesh will meet Netherlands at Saint Vincent in the West Indies on June 13 and the Tigers will take on Nepal at the same venue on June 16.
Bangladesh Cricket squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed (Vice-Captain), Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Tanvir Islam and Shoriful Islam.
Traveling Reserve: Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmnud.