The Bangladesh selectors have recalled wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan and allrounder Saif Hassan in the senior men's squad for the Asia Cup next month. There was however no place for Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Naim, who were both part of the Bangladesh side that beat Pakistan 2-1 last month, report agencies.
The same 16-member squad will play in the three-match T20I series against the Netherlands starting on August 30. Mehidy would have missed the Netherlands matches due to personal reasons, but he also lost his place for the Asia Cup. Mehidy, the new ODI captain, returned to the T20I side after Bangladesh's 2-1 defeat against UAE, but didn't make a big impact. He has been named among the four standby players.
Naim couldn't convert his domestic T20 form into international runs. He had scores of 32*, 3 and 10 in the three T20Is against Pakistan. Naim also didn't perform well enough for Bangladesh A side in the Top End T20s in Darwin, Australia.
Nurul's last T20I was in the World Cup in 2022, when he made just 41 runs in five innings. He gained better form during the 2024-25 season in which he scored 513 runs at a strike rate of 132.90 across the Bangladesh Premier League, National Cricket League and the Global Super League. The 31-year-old Nurul had also led Rangpur Riders to the inaugural GSL title in 2024.
Both Nurul and Saif are playing the Top End T20s. Saif struck a half-century against the Pakistan Shaheens, and 45 against the Melbourne Stars Academy. Nurul got couple of thirties in the five matches.
Soumya Sarkar, Tanvir Islam and Hasan Mahmud are the others on the standby list.
Litton Das will lead the 16-strong side, which blends established names with emerging talent.
Alongside experienced campaigners like Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, the selectors have kept faith in youngsters Tanzid Hasan and Tawhid Hridoy.
Shamim Hossain and Jaker Ali Anik keep their places, while allrounders Shak Mahedi Hasan and Saif Uddin offer balance to the squad.
Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain and left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed provide variety in the spin department.
Bangladesh will play the three T20Is against Netherlands on August 30, and September 1 and 3. Their Asia Cup campaign starts against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi on September 11.
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