Sunday’s press conference held by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was the perfect example of a board deflecting the issues instead of acknowledging them.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his inclusion, the 38-year-old was named in the 15-member squad announced for the upcoming three-match T20I series against India, starting in Gwalior on October 6.

Veteran Mahmudullah Riyad held his spot while Mehedi Hasan Miraz made a comeback to the T20I side as Bangladesh announced a 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series against India, starting in Gwalior on October 6.

Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s selection for the Test series against Pakistan was of particular interest for fans and media alike who were curious to know whether the current political developments had any bearing on the selectors decision to include him in the 16-member squad.

Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu today confirmed that all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will be available for all eight remaining Tests for Bangladesh in 2024.

The Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side hit new lows in T20I when they suffered a series defeat against lower-ranked USA with one match to spare, sparking huge criticism among the cricket fans back home. 

Decision to exclude Tanzid Tamim also lacked logic of the convincing kind.

Bangladesh are stepping on to another T20 World Cup, on the back of a disastrous outing in the 2022 edition in Australia. The make-up of the team will possibly not stir a storm in a teacup, but the expectations from the side was nevertheless questioned in context of the recently concluded series against Zimbabwe where the Tigers may not have been tested to World Cup standards.

Bangladesh’s chairman of the selection committee Gazi Ashraf Lipu said star bowler Taskin Ahmed’s inclusion in the 15-member T20 World Cup squad was based on his tentative recovery ‘at some point’ in the major tournament.  

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha had returned to the country on Sunday and there were quite a few key meetings, including one with selectors and another with cricket operations, before a preparatory squad was announced yesterday for the upcoming home T20I series against Zimbabwe as the World Cup squad starts to take shape.

“Shakib will return to Bangladesh by the end of this month. There is a possibility of him playing one or two matches in the DPL. Then he will join the team,” Lipu told the reporters in Mirpur today

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu's only sister, Afroza Akter, passed away this morning in Uttara. She was 70.

BCB's chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu identified a few problem areas following the recent debacle in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh national team head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who arrived in the country on Thursday, attended a Bangladesh Premier League game for the first time this season on Friday before he gets busy with the upcoming international assignments against Sri Lanka, starting from March 4.

The playoff stage of the Bangladesh Premier League is beginning to take shape as the league phase is coming to an end. The race for the top four spots is heating up. With the business end of the tournament looming, star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has found his touch with the bat. He is making up ground on his pre-set standards and once again is in contention for a Player of the Tournament award. 

Who authorised the selection of the national selector became a pertinent question yesterday after vice-chairman of cricket operations committee and national team director Khaled Mahmud Sujon expressed surprise at the manner of Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu’s appointment.

Lipu said, “There will be freedom, it was discussed with me... Since it’s team selection, obviously captain and coach will be involved.”

“I am the vice-chairman of cricket operation, still I didn’t know anything. This is what surprised me the most”

For years, there have been murmurs about the selection panel not having complete freedom to choose the players that they want.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) held the ninth board meeting of the incumbent board yesterday where changes made in captaincy and the selection panel were the biggest highlights.