Shakib regains T20I captaincy as Asia Cup squad announced

|| CF DESK ||

Ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan has reclaimed the T20I captaincy as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the Asia Cup squad today [Saturday] after a week of drama in Bangladesh cricket.

Shakib, who is also the Test captain, will lead the team for the upcoming Asia Cup in Dubai and Australia’s T20I World Cup.

Jalal Yunus, chairman of the cricket operations department of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), confirmed it to the media after a meeting that also involved the board president and the selectors.

“Shakib al Hasan is the captain till the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup,” Jalal told reporters.

“He admitted that he made a mistake [signing the deal with Betwinner News] and for that he apologised and pledged that he won't make such mistake in future. So we kept faith on him as he is our star cricketer” he added.

Following that meeting, BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu named a 17-man squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup, which would be played in T20 format.

Middle-order batter Sabbir Rahman returned to the squad after three years of hiatus. Sabbir Rahman, who last played for the Tigers in a T20I against Afghanistan in Chattogram in September 2019.

Meanwhile, injured wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan Sohan, who led Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series in Zimbabwe earlier this month, is in consideration to make the squad, subject to him recovering from his finger injury.

Mohammad Saifuddin, a fast-bowling all-rounder, has also returned to the squad. Due to ongoing physical issues, he hasn't played any competitive cricket since the T20 World Cup last year.

Litton Das, who suffered a hamstring injury during the Zimbabwe tour has been ruled out, while Yasir Ali has also been axed from the squad due to injury.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, both veteran players, have been called up after being 'rested' for the Zimbabwe T20Is.

Ebadot Hossain, who made his debut in the third One-Day International against Zimbabwe, has joined the squad.

Earlier, Shakib sparked his recent controversy with BCB by announcing his engagement with Betwinner News, a subsidiary of Betwinner dot com, a betting and gaming platform, which put BCB in a dilemma because Shakib was the frontrunner for the Asia Cup T20I and the ICC T20 World Cup.

The ace all-rounder has been appointed for the third time as the shortest format of the game's skipper.

Earlier, Shakib led Tigers in 2009 and 2017 in T20Is. Bangladesh won 7 out of 21 matches under him, while they faced defeat in 14 games.

Squad: 

Shakib al Hasan (C), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah Riyad, Sabbir Rahman, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Nurul Hasan Sohan (subject to fitness).