Former captain Mohammad Ashraful returned to the national fold as the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a 15-man squad on Thursday for the hastily-arranged Twenty20 tri-series in Zimbabwe.
The Twenty20 tournament, which also involves South Africa and hosts Zimbabwe, will be held from June 17 to 24 with all the matches scheduled at the Harare Sports Club.
Bangladesh were added as the third team at the last moment in what was originally a five-match bilateral series between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Along with Ashraful, batsman Junaed Siddique returned to the side that also included uncapped Ziaur Rahman and Abul Hasan.
Ziaur was part of the Bangladesh squad at the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa, but did not play any match.
Hasan had replaced injured pacer Shafiul Islam during the Asia Cup in March also did not feature in any game.
Chief selector Akram Khan said they picked Ziaur as they believe he is the only T20 specialist in the country.
‘He is the only Twenty20 specialist in our country and he had proved that time and time again, so we gave him the chance,’ Akram told reporters.
Akram added that they rewarded Ashraful and
Junaed for their consistent good showings in the Bangladesh Premier League T20 in February.
‘Ashraful and Junaed were always under our consideration. They just needed to show some consistent performances which they did in the BPL,’ Akram told reporters.
Batsmen Imrul Kayes and Jahirul Islam had to be excluded to make room for them while paceman Shahadat Hossain and Shafiul Islam were also left out.
Bangladesh will leave for Zimbabwe on June 13.
-With New Age input
