Shakib Al Hasan returns to Bangladesh squad for the ODIs against Sri Lanka

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Shakib Al Hasan returns to Bangladesh squad for the ODIs against Sri Lanka

Shakib Al Hasan returns to Bangladesh squad for the ODIs against Sri Lanka

May 24, 2021  Authorbaji55

The Bangladesh Cricket Board declared the squad for the first two ODIs of a three-match series against Sri Lanka on Thursday, May 20th (Thursday). The majority of the players from the team's loss to New Zealand earlier this year have been retained, although Shakib Al Hasan, who was unable to travel due to injury on that tour, has returned.

Najmul Hussain Shanto, who only played one T20I during the tour in Auckland, has been dropped, although Al Amin Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Naim, and Nasum Ahmed have all been left out. Both Hossain and Mahmud are currently suffering from back injuries and will need rehabilitation before making a comeback. Apart from the 15-man team, four standby players have been named: Naim Sheikh, Taijul Islam, Shohidul Islam, and Aminul Islam Biplob.

Meanwhile, the return of Shakib will be a massive boost for the hosts, and the chief selector, Minhajul Abedin, has announced that he will bat at number three for the squad. Shanto's promotion ahead of Shakib against the West Indies did not go well for the team, as he only managed to score 1 and 17 in the series in Dhaka in January this year.

Shakib and Mustafizur were recently in action in the now-suspended Indian Premier League. They have finished their quarantine periods since flying back to the United Kingdom on a chartered flight.

Sri Lanka Cricket named an 18-man team, with captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, and Dinesh Chandimal being left to make room for some new faces. Kusal Perera has been appointed the new captain of SLC, with Kusal Mendis as his deputy. Bangladesh will host them for three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) on May 23, 25, and 28 in Dhaka's Shere Bangla Stadium.