Mashrafe to lead Tigers in first two ODIs against Zimbabwe

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 15-member squad to be led by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza for the 1st and 2nd ODIs of the three-match series against Zimbabwe. Mashrafe last played for the Tigers when the 36-year-old pacer led Bangladesh to an eighth place finish in the World Cup in England last year. 

Opening batsman Naim Sheikh and Afif Hossain are the uncapped players in the side while Mashrafe returns to lead the team after missing the last ODI series in Sri Lanka due to injury. All rounder Mohammad Saifuddin, who last played a T20I for the Tigers back in September last year, also got back in the team after recovering from a back injury.  

BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin said: "It is great to have Mortaza back as his experience and leadership is vital to our one day cricket. Mohammad Saifuddin is also key to the team's balance.

"We had to make certain adjustments in the last ODI series we had played in as a number of cricketers were unavailable due to various reasons but I am happy that we now have a fit pool of players to select from.   

 "Shanto's current form in international and domestic cricket  gets him into the team while Naim and Afif are also part of our long term plan for the shorter version."

SQUAD 

Masrafe Bin Mortaza (Captain), Tamim Iqbal Khan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mahmudullah,  Mushfiqur Rahim, Md Mithun, Litton Kumer Das, Taijul Islam, Afif Hossain, Naim Sheikh, Al Amin Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shafiul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman