Shanto to Lead Bangladesh in ODIs Against Afghanistan
The selectors have also made some key inclusions, recalling opener Zakir Hasan and left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed. Zakir, a left-handed batsman, has previously played only one ODI last year in addition to his experience in 12 Tests. Nasum has not played in an ODI since last year’s World Cup in India, having participated in 15 matches overall.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially announced that Najmul Hossain Shanto will continue as the captain of the national team for the upcoming three One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Afghanistan, set to take place in Sharjah next week. This decision comes after a discussion between Shanto and BCB president Faruque Ahmed following the conclusion of the Chattogram Test, where Shanto expressed his hesitation to remain as the captain across all formats.
Faruque confirmed the captaincy decision to the media, also noting that Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been appointed as Shanto's deputy for the Afghanistan series. Taskin Ahmed is also being considered as a potential future captain, positioning both players as frontrunners in the BCB's discussions regarding leadership roles.
The upcoming series will feature an ODI squad that includes several noteworthy players. Among them is 22-year-old Nahid Rana, the only uncapped player in the squad, who has already made an impression with his performances in five Test matches and a notable record of 26 wickets at an impressive average of 16.46 in List A cricket.
The selectors have also made some key inclusions, recalling opener Zakir Hasan and left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed. Zakir, a left-handed batsman, has previously played only one ODI last year in addition to his experience in 12 Tests. Nasum has not played in an ODI since last year’s World Cup in India, having participated in 15 matches overall.
However, the squad sees the absence of several notable players. Anamul Haque, Taijul Islam, and Hasan Mahmud have been left out, with Mahmud ruled out due to a shoulder injury sustained in the ongoing National Cricket League. Additionally, the seasoned Shakib Al Hasan has opted out of this ODI series, while Litton Das is sidelined with a fever that prevented him from participating in the recent Test against South Africa.
As Bangladesh prepares for their tour, the team will depart for Dubai in two separate groups over the weekend. The ODIs against Afghanistan are scheduled for November 6, 9, and 11, all to be held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
