Bangladesh drop Soumya Sarkar for India T20Is; Mehidy Hasan returns

Bangladesh have announced their 15-member squad for the T20 International (T20I) series against India, starting October 6. All-rounder Soumya Sarkar, who was part of the T20 World Cup squad does not find a place, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz returns to the set-up for the first time in 14 months.

Mehidy last played T20Is for Bangladesh in July 2023, while Sarkar played a couple of games at the marquee event against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Ahmed, who was also part of the World Cup has been excluded.

Left-handed opening batter Parvez Hossain Emon and left-arm orthodox Rakibul Hasan have been called-up to the squad. the duo have played three T20Is apiece and last featured for their national side in the Asian Games in China last year. 

This will be the first series for Bangladesh since Shakib Al Hasan announced his T20I retirement.

"There are certain reasons why we brought these changes. We want to try Parvez Hossain Emon and before the World Cup we kept him in the training sessions and observed him and in the Tigers camp he trained well and so we felt that we want to include him," BCB chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said while announcing the team.

"In the middle order the great Shakib Al Hasan announced that he had already played his last T20 match and the experience that he had we don't have anyone close to that but what we feel is that someone who can bat in his place is Mehidy Miraz," Gazi said. "We feel that he can contribute the most with his batting and he is good with off-spin and we consider his batting and bowling with a lot of importance in Test matches and ODIs.

"We didn't want him to lose his rhythm due to T20 cricket and we had spoken that straight with Mehidy why we did not keep him in the T20 World Cup but at times unexpected things happen so we fill the gap with the one who are considered to be the best possible option. I feel he should get some balls to play and not play as a finisher.

"Tanvir was with our team, but he had broken his hand, and that is the reason we picked Rakibul, keeping the future in mind. I think the guys who are included it is not a fact that they can claim their spot in the playing XI but we feel that if the captain thinks about any combination Rakibul is a good option at the same time we have also kept Sheikh Mahedi because we feel he can bowl well with the new ball."

The first T20I will be played in Gwalior on October 6. The action will then move to Delhi for the second game on October 9, before concluding in Hyderabad on October 12

Bangladesh squad for T20Is vs India: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Litton Das, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rakibul Hasan.

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