Rubel dropped as Bangladesh name squad for Asia Cup and World T20

Selectors have ignored pacer Rubel Hossain for the preliminary squad they picked up for the Asia Cup and the World Twenty20.

Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a 25-man provisional squad for the big tournament on Thursday. Allrounder Ariful Haque is the new face in the mix.

The team will be in Khulna on Jan 23 before attending practice sessions in Chittagong on Feb 7 in their two-phase preparations.

Rubel has been out of international action having been sidelined with an injury since last July. He sustained another injury during Bangladesh A's tour of India last September.

He played six matches for the Sylhet Superstars in the Bangladesh Premier League in November-December last year. But the Tigers' fastest bowler was injured again and has had no play time since then.

Although Rubel is not on the list, BCB selector Habibul Bashar did not completely write off the possibility of him returning to the fold for the World T20.

"This team will play several warm up matches. Rubel has not been included because there is no possibility of him bowling in them," Bashar told bdnews24.com.

If Rubel recovers by the time BCB announces the final World T20 squad, he might be called up.

Anamul Haque, too, was left out following a disappointing show for the Chittagong Vikings in the BPL.

The 23-year-old Ariful was part of Bangladesh's under-19 and under-23 youth teams.

The showcase event for the shortest format of the game will begin on Mar 8 in India. Before that, the first ever T20 Asia Cup will commence in Bangladesh on Feb 24.

Provisional 25-man squad:

Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Litton Kumer Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Nurul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury, Ariful Haque, Arafat Sunny, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Haider Rony, Al-Amin Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Mohammad Shahid , Abul Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Muktar Ali.