The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe, recalling all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and middle-order batter Yasir Ali Rabbi after lengthy absences from the shortest format.
Mosaddek makes his return to Bangladesh’s T20I squad after almost four years, having last featured during the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia. Yasir, meanwhile, has earned a recall nearly three years after his most recent appearance in Bangladesh colours at the 2023 Asian Games.
The selectors have retained confidence in Towhid Hridoy, who will once again captain the side in the absence of regular skipper Litton Das. Litton has been granted permission by the BCB to participate in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL), ruling him out of the Zimbabwe T20Is.
Hridoy recently led Bangladesh during the home T20I series against Australia while Litton was unavailable. Although the hosts suffered a disappointing 3-0 clean sweep, the board has decided to continue with the young batter as captain for the Zimbabwe assignment, signalling its faith in his leadership despite the recent setback.
The inclusion of Mosaddek adds valuable experience to Bangladesh’s middle order. A batting all-rounder capable of contributing with off-spin, he has represented the national side across all three formats and has often been regarded as a dependable option in white-ball cricket. His return provides Bangladesh with greater flexibility in team balance, particularly on pitches that may favour spin bowling.
Yasir’s recall also strengthens the middle-order batting unit. Known for his ability to rotate the strike and accelerate during the closing stages of an innings, he will be looking to re-establish himself after spending an extended period outside the national T20 setup.
Another notable selection is pace-bowling all-rounder Abdul Gaffar Saklain, who has retained his place despite an underwhelming international debut series in Bangladesh colours. The selectors have opted to give the youngster another opportunity to prove himself at the highest level, reflecting their willingness to invest in emerging talent.
The three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe will be played on 15, 17 and 19 July, with all matches scheduled to take place in Bulawayo.
Bangladesh enter the limited-overs leg of the tour under pressure following a disappointing start to their Zimbabwe campaign. The visitors suffered a heavy innings defeat in the solitary Test, exposing weaknesses in both the batting and bowling departments. The result has increased the importance of a strong response in the white-ball formats.
Before the T20I series begins, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will contest a One-Day International series, with the opening match set for 6 July. The ODI series will provide several members of the T20 squad with an opportunity to regain momentum and confidence ahead of the shorter-format fixtures.
The Zimbabwe tour forms part of Bangladesh’s preparations for future international assignments and offers the team management another chance to assess experienced campaigners alongside emerging cricketers. With several senior players unavailable or being managed carefully, the selectors have attempted to strike a balance between continuity and fresh opportunities.
For Mosaddek and Yasir, the series represents an important chance to revive their international careers. Consistent performances could strengthen their claims for selection in Bangladesh’s future T20 plans, while Hridoy will be eager to guide the team to a positive result after a difficult series against Australia.
Bangladesh T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series: Towhid Hridoy (captain), Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Yasir Ali Rabbi, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Sheikh Mehedi, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shariful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, Abdul Gaffar Saklain and Mohammad Saifuddin.