Versatile Mohammad Saifuddin returns although his recurring back problem remains a concern, while fast bowler Ebadot Hossain also gains a spot. Nurul Hasan was named to the squad despite a finger injury but BCB said they are awaiting an update on him on August 21.
Although Sabbir didn’t have a great BPL season – where he made 109 points in six matches – he scored 515 points at 39.61 average in the Dhaka Premier League one-day tournament. He also caught the eye during the Bangladesh Tigers program where a number of fringe players are trained. Sabbir has been sent to the Caribbean to play one-day matches for Bangladesh A against West Indies A. He has played 44 T20Is so far, for 946 carries at an average of 24.89.
“We have seen it [Sabbir] on the national side of T20,” coach Minhajul Abedin said. “We think he has the experience. We sent him to play in the one-day series against Antilles A, to give him playing time.”
Bangladesh had missed the original deadline to name the Asian Cup squad, while the board settled the issue of Shakib’s sponsorship. Bangladesh will be one of six teams participating in the Asian Cup main round, along with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and a qualifier. The identity of the qualifier will be known via a qualifying tournament which will begin on August 20.
Yunus: ‘We asked Shakib not to make such a mistake again’
Shakib was ‘misplaced’ in the deal with Betwinner and has vowed not to repeat the ‘mistake’, according to BCB cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus. Shakib had met with senior BCB officials, including Chairman of the Board Nazmul Hassan, in Dhaka earlier in the day.
“Shakib has admitted his mistake (regarding the controversy between Betwinner), but he is important to us,” Yunus said. “He is still our best player. We had already decided that Shakib would be the captain earlier, so we are sticking with it. He thought it was an online news site. He felt he was wrong . ). We hope he doesn’t repeat it again. We asked him not to make such a mistake again. We put an end to all this.”
The T20I tri-series in New Zealand, which also involves the hosts and Pakistan, begins on October 7 and will be the last chance for Bangladesh to prepare for the T20 World Cup, which will be played in Australia in October-November. .
Bangladesh team in Asian Cup: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Anamul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nurul Hasan, Taskin Ahmed
