Imrul, Taskin, Nurul return to Bangladesh T20 squad for NIDAHAS tri-series

Imrul Kayes, Taskin Ahmed and Nurul Hasan Sohan have returned to Twenty20 International squad as Bangladesh Cricket Board is banking on experience.

Bowling Coach Courtney Walsh has been made the head coach for the NIDAHAS Trophy tri-nation tournament to be held in Sri Lanka from Mar 6 to 16. Apart from the hosts, the other team is India.

The BCB announced the 16-member squad on Monday, including Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who will play if all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan cannot recover fully from a finger injury.

Chief Selector Minhazul Abedin said at a news conference at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium it would take seven to 10 more days for Shakib to recover.

“We would have announced a 15-player squad if Shakib had recovered. Now we’ve taken off-spinning all-rounder Miraz as his cover,” he said.   

Mahmudullah, who had led the team in the absence of Shakib against Sri Lanka in the home series, has been made vice-captain.

Out of the six players who debuted in the T20 series against Sri Lanka earlier in February, left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam Apu and middle-order batsman Ariful Haque have been retained.

Mohammad Saif Uddin, Mehedi Hasan, Zakir Hasan, and Afif Hossain made their international debut in the home series, but have failed to break into the tri-nation series squad.

Mohammad Mithun, who had also been in the squad for the home series, has been dropped.

The squad:

Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Mahmudullah (Vice-captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarker, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Haider Rony, Abu Jahed Rahi, Ariful Haque, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Nazmul Islam Apu.

Walsh head coach

Minhazul said the absence of a head coach caused problems in making final decisions in the last tournament.

“Besides this, we need someone who can be called the mentor and is respected by all as a senior. We’ve considered everything while selecting Walsh as head coach,” he said.

“He is very much experienced and respected by all. I don’t think someone has any doubts about it,” he added.

Bangladesh have been searching for a head coach since November last year when Chandika Hathurusingha resigned and joined his home team Sri Lanka.

Hathurusingha’s Sri Lanka won the tri-nation ODI series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Bangladesh also lost the Test and T20 series against Sri Lanka.

BCB Technical Director Khaled Mahmud, who worked as head coach unofficially during the tournament, recently stirred a debate, saying he did not want to work in a ‘dirty environment’.