|| CF DESK ||

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selectors have announced a 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series against India.

Spin all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz makes his return to the squad after last featuring in the T20 format 14 months ago.

Additionally, left-handed top-order batter Parvez Hossain Emon, along with young left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan, have been included in the squad.

However, Shakib Al Hasan axed from the T20 side as he announced retirement from the shorter format of the game recently, while Soumya Sarkar has been dropped from the team.

"The great Shakib Al Hasan announced that he had played his final T20I. Considering his experience and performance, we don't have someone anywhere near him for replacement but batting-wise; someone who can make up for Shakib's absence is Mehedi Hasan Miraz. He will take that spot." Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu said in a BCB video.

"Our thinking is that Miraz can make his biggest contributions with the bat. He bowls good off-spin but we did not go for him in the T20 World Cup; a big reason for that was that we did not want to hamper his batting or bowling in Test and ODIs through the aggressive nature of T20 cricket. We thought that his Powerplay bowling was not a good option. We were clear then about where we wanted to see him. In the context, we want to see him bat higher and not as a finisher" he added.

Bangladesh’s T20 squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Litton Das, Jakir Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Sheikh Mahedi, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rakibul Hasan.