Tamim Iqbal returns for England ODIs; Towhid Hridoy earns call-up

Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal is all set to play his first international match in six months as the 33-year-old, who’s been plagued by a series of injuries of late, has been named in the Tigers’ squad for the first two ODIs against England. 

Tamim, who missed both the ODIs and Tests against India due to a groin injury, last played for Bangladesh in the ODI series against Zimbabwe back in August. Having successfully recovered from the injury and having proven his fitness participating in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the southpaw has been named in the squad for the England series, starting March 1.

The Bangladesh squad, however, not only sees the return of a veteran but the entry of a youngster as 22-year-old opener Towhid Hridoy has been picked on the back of an impressive BPL season. 

Hridoy, who was a part of Bangladesh’s U19 WC winning squad in 2020, finished BPL 2023 as the third-highest run-getter, amassing 403 runs at an average of 36.63 and SR of 140.41. That, coupled with his List A average of 45.50, has earned the right-hander a well-deserved call-up.

"Towhid Hridoy has been doing well in the BPL," chief selector Minhajul Abedin said. 

"He was in our pool of potential players, and was part of the HP [High Performance] and Bangladesh A sides.”

Minhajul also added that the selection committee decided to drop wicket-keeper Nurul Hasan and fast bowler Shoriful Islam on the basis of their form. Anamul Haque and Yasir Ali have both not made the cut too, but the chief selector revealed that the latter still has a chance of making it to the list.

"Yasir remains in our thinking, as we plan to take another player in the squad. Nasum is being considered for another format, while we dropped Nurul and Shoriful due to form,” Minhajul said.

The three-match ODI series, which is a part of the ODI Super League, will start on March 1 in Dhaka.

Bangladesh squad for England ODIs

Tamim Iqbal (capt), Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain, Taijul Islam, Towhid Hridoy