Shakib returns for all formats
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was included across all three formats as selectors yesterday announced the squads for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. Wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan was also named in all three formats while young Shamim Hossain proved to be only new face, breaking into the T20I side.
The Tigers are scheduled to board a flight on Monday to take part in one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is against Zimbabwe.
Shamim caught the eye with his hard-hitting ability in the lower-middle order. The left-hander was part of the Bangladesh U-19 World Cup-winning side and has scored 181 runs in ten innings for Prime Doleshwar in the Dhaka Premier League so far at a strike rate close to 150.
"Obviously I am happy, but I think getting a chance in the team is not the end. It's important to utilise this opportunity. Mainly I bat at number six and my aim will be to play the role of a finisher and contribute to the team," an elated Shamim told media yesterday.
Soumya Sarkar was dropped from the ODI side but found a place in the T20I team while Mustafizur Rahman was named exclusively in the white-ball formats while left-handed Najmul Hossain was picked only for the Test side.
Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan was also included in the Test side alongside Nurul, who played his last Test back in 2018 against the West Indies. Shakib returned to the Test team for the first time since taking leave from the last series in Sri Lanka to take part in the Indian Premier League.
Off-spinning all-rounder Mahedi Hasan was dropped from the ODI side while Nurul, Taijul Islam and Rubel Hossain made comebacks. Nurul played his last ODI in December 2016 in New Zealand.
Tamim Iqbal, who took a break from the last T20I series in New Zealand, expectedly returned. However, experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim will not feature in the T20I series in Zimbabwe after asking for leave.
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