The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the squad for the T20 series against Afghanistan, with the return of star batsman Soumya Sarkar and a new captain. The 16-member squad was revealed on the afternoon of Sunday, 28 September.
Jaker Ali Anik will lead the team in the T20 series, as regular captain Litton Das has been ruled out due to a side strain. Litton missed Bangladesh’s last two Asia Cup matches after sustaining the injury during practice ahead of the clash against India.
Soumya Sarkar, who has been in excellent form for Khulna in the NCL T20, has been recalled to the national squad. In two matches so far, he impressed with 63 from 34 balls against Rajshahi, including six fours and four sixes, and 45 from 33 balls against Dhaka Metro, with four fours and three sixes. He will now join the team in the United Arab Emirates.
Litton is expected to require at least one and a half to two weeks to recover, leaving his participation in the upcoming ODI series uncertain. National team physiotherapist Baizedul Islam confirmed, “Litton missed the last two matches of the Asia Cup due to a side strain. MRI scans showed a Grade-1 strain in the left abdominal muscles. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation under the supervision of the medical team and will not play in the T20 series.”
The first T20 match against Afghanistan will take place on 2 October, with the second and third matches scheduled for 3 and 5 October in Sharjah. The three-match ODI series will follow from 8 October, with the remaining fixtures on 11 and 14 October in Abu Dhabi.
Players including Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto, currently participating in the NCL T20, are expected to fly to the UAE in the coming days. In Litton’s absence, Jaker Ali Anik will captain Bangladesh for the T20 series.
Bangladesh squad for Afghanistan T20 series
Jaker Ali Anik (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rishad Hossain, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Md Shaif Uddin, Soumya Sarkar.
