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Bangladesh has unveiled a 16-member squad for their upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, set to kick off on July 10. However, the notable omission from the lineup is former captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. His exit from the side follows a lackluster run in 2024, where he averaged just 18.84 across 21 T20Is, registering only one half-century. This marks a sharp decline from his form in 2023 when he amassed 218 runs in ten innings at an average of 31.14. Having already stepped down as T20I captain in January, Shanto now finds himself entirely out of the squad.
All-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin makes his return to the T20I squad after a year-long absence. The 28-year-old pacer wasn't a part of the previous T20 World Cup due to poor performance against Zimbabwe. Also back in the lineup are Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, and Nasum Ahmed. However, Shanto isn't the only player who got omitted from the squad. Alongside Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Hasan Mahmud, Tanvir Islam, Nahid Rana, and Khaled Ahmed - all of whom were part of the previous T20I squad that faced Pakistan are not in the new list.
Left-handed Mohammad Naim makes a comeback due to an impressive performance in the domestic season
In the major change of the squad, left-handed opener Mohammad Naim has made it to the batting unit instead of Najmul Hossain Shanto. His recall is likely a reward for his outstanding form in the 2024-25 domestic circuit, where he finished as the leading run-scorer in both the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and the National Cricket League (NCL) T20s. Naim amassed 827 runs at an average of 37.59 and an impressive strike rate of 140.40, registering one century and six half-centuries.
Meanwhile, Shoriful Islam, who picked up a minor groin injury during the second T20I against Pakistan in May, has been retained. In the spin department, Nasum Ahmed comes in for Tanvir Islam, suggesting that the selectors are still weighing their options for left-arm spin in the shorter formats. The second T20I is scheduled for July 13 in Kandy, while Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka will wrap up with the final T20I on July 16 in Colombo.
Bangladesh's T20I squad for Sri Lanka series:
Litton Das (c), Tanzid Tamim, Parvez Emon (wk), Naim Sheikh, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali , Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mohammad Saifuddin
