Bangladesh announced its 17-member squad for Asia Cup 2023, beginning on 30 August onwards. Shakib Al Hasan will lead the Bangladesh Cricket team, with 22-year-old top-order batter Tanzid Hasan being given a maiden national side call-up.
Shakib Al Hasan was recently named the new Bangladesh captain after Tamim Iqbal stepped down from the role last week.
Hasan and Mohammad Naim are two of the opening batters who will act as a cover for veteran Tamim Iqbal, who is not playing in the tournament due to a back injury. Hasan had scored three half-centuries in the recent ACC Emerging Asia Cup and had an extraordinary Dhaka Premier League (DPL) last season.
Naim and Shamim played against Afghanistan in T20Is last month, and their performances also got them included in the ODI side recently, while Mahedi’s selection will boost the spin bowling attack. Mahedi did not have an exceptional DPL season but performed way better in ACC Emerging Asia Cup.
Tamim, who also gave up on ODI captaincy, is in rehab for his injury. He met a specialist in London last month and is working on his health to stay fit for the ODI series against New Zealand, which is starting on 21 September onwards.
Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Mohammad Naim.