Opener Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan returned to the Test squad while uncapped pacer Khaled Ahmed got a maiden call-up in ODIs as Bangladesh announced squads for their three-ODI and two-Test tour of South Africa in March-April.
There was some confusion regarding Shakib's availability for the entirety of the South Africa tour as the premier all-rounder had requested to skip the Test series, beginning on March 31, to keep him available for the Indian Premier League.
However, as Shakib went unpicked in the this season's IPL auction, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan ensured that the player will be available for both ODIs and Tests in South Africa. Meanwhile, opener Tamim, who missed the two-Test tour of New Zealand earlier this year due to a recurring thumb injury, is also back in the squad. Fazle Mahmud, who replaced Shakib in the New Zealand tour, and opener Mohammad Naim are the two players dropped from the Test squad.
Bangladesh, however, made only one addition to the ODI squad that played at home against Afghanistan last month. Khaled, who is usually considered for Tests, was the only player added in the squad for the ODIs against South Africa.
The first ODI will be played on March 18 in Centurion. The second and third ODIs are scheduled for March 20 and 23 in Johannesburg and Centurion respectively. The opening Test will be played on March 31 while the final Test is scheduled for April 8. Both the ODI and the Test series will be part of the ICC ODI Super League and World Test Championship.
ODI SQUAD:
Tamim Iqbal Khan (Captain), Litton Kumer Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmud Ullah, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Nasum Ahmed, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Syed Khaled Ahmed
TEST SQUAD:
Mominul Haque Showrab (Captain), Tamim Iqbal Khan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Shoriful Islam, Shohidul Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Shadman Islam, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan
