Bangladesh call up Mosharraf, drop Rubel for third Afghanistan ODI

Bangladesh called up left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain replacing paceman Rubel Hossain for the third ODI against Afghanistan.

This was the only change made by the selectors to the squad that played the first two matches. Mosharraf has already joined the team for training on Thursday.

The decision to omit Rubel came in a meeting after the two-wicket defeat against Afghanistan in the second ODI on Wednesday night when he gave away 24 runs from three overs.

In the first match, where the Tigers managed a tense seven-run win, Rubel proved to be expensive. He conceded 62 in nine overs for a wicket.

Mosharraf, a 34-year-old southpaw, returned to the team after eight years. His three ODIs came in March 2008 against South Africa.

Later that year he joined the rebel Indian Cricket League, which is now out of commission.

He was regularly among wickets and top performer in domestic cricket since the BCB reinstated the ICL players in 2010.

He was picked for the national squad in an ODI series against Sri Lanka more than three years ago, but did not get a game.

Mosharraf also made it into the preliminary 30-man squad of the New Zealand series in 2013 but was then provisionally banned over charges of match fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League.

The ban was later lifted and he was cleared of any wrongdoing in April 2014.

In the last Dhaka Premiere League, he grabbed 12 wickets and scored 350 run and in August he was added to Bangladesh's 30-man preliminary squad ahead of international season.

In a stage when players ponder over retirement, Mosharraf is on the brink of a new start to his career.

Squad:

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mosharraf Hossain, Imrul Kayes, Shafiul Islam, Mosaddek Hossain, Taijul islam, Taskin Ahmed.