The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named its squad ahead of the upcoming three-match T20 series against the Netherlands and the 17th edition of the Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates from 9 to 28 September. Wicketkeeper-batsman Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan returns to the national side after nearly three years, while all-rounders Mohammad Saifuddin and Saif Hasan have also been included.
The Asia Cup will follow the T20 format, featuring 19 matches in total – 11 in Dubai and 8 in Abu Dhabi. Bangladesh has been drawn in Group B alongside Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. Group A includes defending champions India, Pakistan, hosts UAE, and Oman. Bangladesh will begin their campaign on 11 September against Hong Kong, followed by matches against Sri Lanka on 13 September and Afghanistan on 16 September, with all three group games scheduled in Abu Dhabi. The final will take place in Dubai on 28 September.
Ahead of the Asia Cup, Bangladesh will prepare with a three-match T20 series at home against the Netherlands, starting in Sylhet on 30 August.
Sohan’s return to the T20 side comes after an impressive domestic season. In the National Cricket League (NCL) T20, he excelled for Khulna Division, while in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) earlier this year, playing for Dhanmondi Sports Club, he scored 512 runs in 11 matches, including two centuries and two half-centuries. He had also made two centuries against New Zealand ‘A’ and a fifty in a preparatory match ahead of the Sri Lanka tour. In the ongoing Top End T20 series, the right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman has continued to contribute valuable runs, earning a recall after last appearing in the ICC T20 World Cup in November 2022.
For the Asia Cup, four players have been named as standbys: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Soumya Sarkar, and Tanvir Islam, who will remain reserves outside the main squad for the Netherlands series.
Squad:
Litton Kumer Das (c), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Tawhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin
Standby (Asia Cup only):
Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud