Shakib returns as ODI skipper

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday named Shakib Al Hasan as Bangladesh ODI team's captain to lead in the upcoming Asia Cup and the World Cup.

The Asia Cup will be held in August-September in Pakistan and Sri Lanka while the World Cup will be held in India in November-December.

This will be the second stint as Bangladesh's ODI captain for Shakib, having previously led Bangladesh in 50 ODIs between 2009 and 2017. The all-rounder also currently leads Bangladesh in Tests and T20Is.

A press release from BCB confirmed the appointment, where president Nazmul Hassan is quoted as saying, "Shakib was the obvious choice to captain Bangladesh when the position fell vacant. I am very confident that his exemplary performance, experience, and leadership qualities will galvanise the team as we head into two massive events like the Asia Cup and the World Cup."

The BCB boss, however, made the disclosure to selected media personnel two hours prior to the issuing of the press release at his residence.

The BCB boss said Shakib was the obvious choice for the position in consideration of the importance of the two upcoming assignments. Hassan, who was given the responsibility to make the final call regarding the captaincy issue after an emergency board meeting on Tuesday failed to come to a decision, said Shakib was more serious now than any other cricketer in the team.

Hassan also spoke elaborately about the possible structure of the 17-member squad for the Asia Cup which will be declared today.

He gave away a few names as certainties while remaining vague about the chances of some other players, including Mahmudullah Riyad and Afif Hossain.   Hassan, however, said the team management would try out at least a couple of openers in the Asia Cup, given the uncertainty over the return of injured opener and former captain Tamim Iqbal, ahead of the World Cup.