Towhid Hridoy to lead as Bangladesh announce 15-member T20I squad for Zimbabwe series

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Bangladesh have announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, with Towhid Hridoy set to lead the side in the absence of regular skipper Litton Kumar Das. The series marks another important step in Bangladesh’s preparations ahead of next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as the selectors continue to assess combinations and strengthen the squad depth.

The Tigers will travel to Bulawayo for the three-match series, with all fixtures scheduled to be played at the Queens Sports Club. Several first-choice players, including Litton, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud, have been granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in the Lanka Premier League, prompting Bangladesh to field a slightly reshaped squad featuring a blend of experienced campaigners and returning faces.

The biggest talking point from the squad announcement is the return of all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain, who has earned a recall after an impressive ODI series against Australia, where he scored 157 runs across three matches. The selectors have also brought back Yasir Ali after nearly three years, with the middle-order batter returning to the T20I setup for the first time since the 2023 Asian Games.

Fast-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin has also returned to the squad as Bangladesh continue their search for the ideal pace-bowling all-rounder ahead of future global tournaments. Chief selector Habibul Bashar revealed that the team management is keen to maintain the balance of playing two specialist fast bowlers alongside a seam-bowling all-rounder, making Saifuddin’s inclusion an important tactical decision.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Litton and fast bowler Taskin will miss the series after being granted permission to feature in the Lanka Premier League. Litton is also continuing his recovery from a calf injury and is expected to return before Bangladesh’s ODI commitments later this month.

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Hridoy will captain Bangladesh for the second time after previously leading the side during the home T20I series against Australia when Litton was unavailable through injury. The selectors have retained their faith in the young batter’s leadership while making a few changes to the squad that featured against Australia.

Shamim Hossain has been rested following a prolonged lean run with the bat, while Mosaddek, Yasir and Saifuddin replace him and strengthen both the batting and all-round departments. Bangladesh will begin the T20I series on July 15, with the remaining matches scheduled for July 17 and July 19, all to be played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Bangladesh T20I squad: Towhid Hridoy (c), Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Saif Hassan, Mosaddek Hossain, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Mohammad Saifuddin and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain.

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