Najmul Hossain Shanto has been appointed captain for Bangladesh’s ODI series against Afghanistan, amid notable absences due to injury and personal decisions.
Najmul Hossain Shanto has been appointed as the captain of Bangladesh for the upcoming three One Day Internationals against Afghanistan in Sharjah, set to take place next week. This decision comes after discussions held between Shanto and the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Faruque Ahmed, on Thursday evening following the conclusion of the Test match in Chattogram. During this conversation, Shanto expressed his reservations about continuing as the all-format captain for the national team.
While the announcement about Shanto’s captaincy has been made, the BCB has yet to reveal the squads for the West Indies tour planned for late November. Bangladesh is scheduled to compete in two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20s during this series.
In an important note regarding leadership dynamics within the team, Faruque disclosed to the media that Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who has been named as Shanto’s deputy for the Afghanistan series, along with Taskin Ahmed, are considered “front-runners” in the ongoing discussions about Bangladesh’s captaincy. Both players feature on the Bangladesh ODI squad, highlighting their prominence in the setup.
For this series, the selectors have included 22-year-old pace bowler Nahid Rana as the only uncapped player in the Bangladesh ODI contingent. Despite his lack of international experience in ODIs, Rana has already displayed promise in his five Test outings, where he has managed to claim 26 wickets at an impressive average of 16.46 in ten List A matches. His ability to generate speed and bounce has caught the attention of selectors, indicating his potential impact in the ODIs.
Additionally, there has been a recall for opener Zakir Hasan and left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed. Zakir, a left-handed batsman, has a limited ODI record, having participated in only one match last year alongside 12 Test appearances. Nasum, on the other hand, last featured in an ODI during the World Cup held in India the previous year, accumulating a total of 15 ODIs under his belt.
The squad, however, will be without notable players such as Anamul Haque, Taijul Islam, and Hasan Mahmud. Mahmud’s absence is notably due to a shoulder injury sustained during the ongoing National Cricket League, and the team will also miss the services of Shakib Al Hasan. According to Faruque, Shakib voluntarily opted out of consideration for this ODI series. Furthermore, Litton Das is unavailable due to fever, which had already sidelined him during the Test match against South Africa in Chattogram.
The Bangladesh team is scheduled to travel to Dubai, departing in two separate groups on Saturday and Sunday. The three ODIs against Afghanistan are slated for November 6, 9, and 11, and these matches will take place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, a venue that has hosted numerous international fixtures over the years.
The selection for Bangladesh’s ODI squad reflects a blend of seasoned players and emerging talent, poised to take on the challenge presented by Afghanistan. The upcoming series will not only serve as an opportunity for the team to solidify its performance but also allow the new captain to establish his leadership style amid the changing dynamics in the squad.
The complete ODI squad for Bangladesh is as follows:
Soumya Sarkar
Tanzid Hasan
Zakir Hasan
Nazmul Hossain Shanto (captain)
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mahmudullah Riyad
Towhid Hridoy
Jaker Ali
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Rishad Hossain
Nasum Ahmed
Taskin Ahmed
Mustafizur Rahman
Shoriful Islam
Nahid Rana
As the fans gear up for this exciting series, the focus will undoubtedly be on how the team adapts to the changes in leadership and player dynamics. The series against Afghanistan presents vital learning opportunities and challenges that may influence the team’s strategy heading into future series, including the forthcoming tour of the West Indies. With a blend of seasoned players and rising stars, the Bangladeshi side aims to make a mark on the international cricket stage.
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