In a squad revamp ahead of the three-T20I leg of their ongoing tour of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh have decided to omit Najmul Hossain Shanto. Shanto, who until January was leading the side in the shortest format, has had a pretty dismal time in the format lately. Since the start of 2024, only one of his appearances came this year against the UAE in Sharjah, and his returns with the bat have been thin. Playing 22 T20Is since then, he has scored at a gloomy average of 18.3.
Mohammad Naim, who was the highest run-getter in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) this year, has been slotted in at Shanto’s place. Naim also had a brilliant run in the National Cricket League, Bangladesh’s domestic T20 league, making his return to the squad for the first time since 2022 entirely justifiable.
Bangladesh have rung in five changes in total, including Shanto’s axing. The star fast bowling duo, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed, have been called back following their return to fitness. Both pacers marked their return to the national side in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo, where Taskin bagged four wickets and Mustafizur bowled six economical overs, albeit without any scalps.
There was uncertainty around Shoriful Islam’s inclusion, after he picked up a groin niggle in the recent T20I series against Pakistan. However, Bangladesh selectors have decided to let him keep his spot. In the spin department, they keep shuffling their cards, bringing back Nasum Ahmed in Tanvir Islam’s place. With the T20 World Cup next year set to be played in relatively spin-friendly conditions, Bangladesh want to ensure they use the build-up aptly to settle the spin hierarchy and halt the back-and-forth between the left-arm spinners.
Saifuddin returned in the series against Zimbabwe in May 2024, after remaining out since 2022. He took a break from cricket in August last year for two months following his exclusion from the 2024 T20 World Cup. Since then, he has been rebuilding and has taken 12 wickets in the recent edition of the BPL and 24 wickets in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL).
Bangladesh are set to play the three T20Is on July 10 in Pallekele, July 13 in Dambulla, and July 16 in Colombo. Bangladesh will have a short turnaround before their next T20I series, which will begin on July 20 against Pakistan. They were supposed to follow it up with a home series against India in August 2025. However, both the boards, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), have decided to postpone the series to September 2025.
“This decision has been reached following discussions between the two boards, taking into account the international cricketing commitments and scheduling convenience of both teams,” the BCCI said in a statement.
“The BCB looks forward to welcoming India in September 2025 for this eagerly anticipated series. Revised dates and fixtures for the tour will be announced in due course.”
Bangladesh T20I Squad against Sri Lanka: Litton Das (capt, wk), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mohammad Naim, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mohammad Saifuddin.
