Zakir, Mahmud rewarded with central contract

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has released the list of 21 cricketers under central contracts for the year 2023.

Liton Kumar Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Taskin Ahmed and Mehdi Hasan Miraj have been kept under contract for all three formats. Youngsters like Zakir Hasan and Hasan Mahmud have come under contract for the first time.

In the press release issued by the BCB on Saturday, there is no big surprise.

Mushfiqur Rahim is on ODI and Test contract after retiring from T20s. Mahmudullah, who retired from Tests earlier, lost his place in the T20 team in the last World Cup. The former captain has been kept on ODI contract only.

ODI captain Tamim Iqbal is also under contract for both versions.

Right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud was on rumored to be in central contract. He got the reward for his consistent performance last year.

Opener Zakir, who scored a century on his Test debut last year, has been placed on a long-term contract. Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam dropped out to give him place.