Naim, Afif, Taskin return to ODI squad

Afif Hossain and Naim Sheikh made the cut to the national side as the selectors on Saturday announced the 15-member Bangladesh squad for the upcoming ODI series at home against Afghanistan. 

Apart from Afif and Naim, pacer Taskin Ahmed, who missed the last series against Ireland due to injury, also makes a comeback to the side. 

Meanwhile, batters Yasir Ali and Rony Talukdar were left out from the previous squad, along with pacer Mrittunjoy Chowdhury who made way for Taskin. 

After being dropped from the England series due to prolonged failures, the selectors included Afif in the side again. Naim, on the other hand, earned his return to the side after two years on the back of an impressive run in the Dhaka Premier League, where he finished as the leading run-getter.

The ODI series, slated to be held at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, kicks off against Afghanistan on July 5 before the second and third match take place on July 8 and 11, respectively.

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

ITINERARY (ODI Series)

DATE          SCHEDULE           START                  VENUE

05 July       1st ODI                2pm (D/N)           ZACS, Chattogram

08 July       2nd ODI               2pm (D/N)           ZACS, Chattogram

11 July       3rd ODI                2pm (D/N)           ZACS, Chattogram