Mahidul Islam earns maiden ODI call-up for West Indies series

Middle-order batter Mahidul Islam Ankon earned maiden ODI call-up as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 16-member squad for the three-match ODI series against the West Indies on Thursday, report agencies.
Opener Mohammad Naim Sheikh and pacer Nahid Rana, who were part of the recently concluded ODI series against Afghanistan, failed to retain their place in squad that marked the return of opener Soumya Sarkar in the 50-over format.
Naim and Rana played in the third ODI in the bilateral series against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, which Bangladesh lost by 200 runs to concede the series 3-0. Naim edged to slip after scratching around for 23 balls, while Rana didn't pick up a wicket, and also didn't complete his last over, raising fears of an injury.
Soumya spent a frustrating couple of weeks after missing the T20I series against Afghanistan since his UAE visa couldn't be processed in time, which prevented him from linking up with the squad. Soumya now returns to the ODI side after last playing in the format in February this year.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mahidul is uncapped in ODIs - his only international appearance was the Chattogram
Test against South Africa last year. Mahidul has been in good form in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, the country's main List A competition, in the last two years. He averages 46.86 with the bat, with a century and ten fifties.
The online news portal Cricbuzz earlier reported that Litton is unlikely to make it to the ODIs due to the side strain injury that he sustained in Asia Cup and after getting the scan report, the team management decided to bench him as they decided not to take any risk with their T20I skipper.
The national selectors have continued to keep faith in the likes of Najmul Hossain Shanto, Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain, despite their poor recent form. They have also kept the same spin attack, led by captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain, and much of the fast bowlers from the Afghanistan series, headlined by Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.
After the ODI series opener tomorrow (Saturday), the second and third matches will be played on October 21 and 23.
Bangladesh have tasted a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Afghanistan in the recent ODI series, taking the tally of defeat to 11 out of 12 matches in this format.
Bangladesh ODI squad for series against West Indies: Mehidy Hassan Miraz (capt), Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam (wk), Jaker Ali (wk), Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan, Hasan Mahmud