Bangladesh Announces ODI Squad for West Indies Series: Mehidy Hasan to Continue as Captain

Bangladesh ODI Squad for West Indies Series: Key Updates and Changes

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced its squad for the three-match ODI series against the West Indies, scheduled for December 8, 10, and 12 in St. Kitts. Mehidy Hasan Miraz will continue to captain the team in the absence of regular skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who is sidelined due to a groin strain. Here are the key highlights and changes in the squad.

Captaincy Changes

With Shanto unavailable, Mehidy Hasan Miraz steps in as captain, following his leadership stint in the ongoing Test series, where the West Indies lead 1-0.

Notable Absentees

Shakib Al Hasan:
The veteran allrounder continues to remain unavailable due to personal and mental health reasons. BCB president Faruque Ahmed commented that while Shakib remains in contention for ODIs, he requires adequate preparation and integration with the team before returning to the national side.“Playing for a franchise and playing for the country is not the same thing,” Ahmed noted, citing Shakib’s participation in the Abu Dhabi T10 league earlier this year.
Towhid Hridoy:
The middle-order batter misses the series due to a groin injury sustained during a football game.
Mushfiqur Rahim:
The experienced wicketkeeper-batter is recovering from a finger injury and remains unavailable.
Mustafizur Rahman:
The left-arm pacer has opted out of the series citing personal reasons.
Zakir Hasan:
The left-handed opener has been dropped following his recent performances.

Squad Additions and Inclusions

Litton Das:
The wicketkeeper-batter returns to the ODI squad after missing the November series against Afghanistan.
Afif Hossain and Parvez Hossain Emon:
Both players earn a spot in the squad, adding depth to the batting lineup.
Hasan Mahmud and Tanzim Hasan Sakib:
These promising pacers bolster the team’s bowling options, joining Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam.
Other Key Players:
Mahmudullah and Nasum Ahmed remain part of the core team, adding stability to the middle order and spin department, respectively.

Challenges Ahead for Bangladesh

The absence of senior players like Shakib, Mushfiqur, and Mustafizur poses a challenge for the squad. However, the inclusion of young talents like Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Parvez Hossain signals Bangladesh’s intent to invest in the future.

With Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the helm, the team will look to improve its performance following the Test series. The ODIs against West Indies serve as a crucial opportunity to rebuild team momentum.

Bangladesh ODI Squad vs. West Indies

Captain: Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Wicketkeeper: Litton Das
Batters: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Parvez Hossain, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Afif Hossain
Spinners: Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed
Pacers: Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan, Nahid Rana