Bangladesh have freshened their bowling options for the first two T20Is against New Zealand in Chattogram, resting established quicks Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana and handing recalls to Ripon Mondol and a maiden call-up to Abdul Gaffar Saqlain.
Mondol, 21, has already played three T20Is – all at the 2023 Asian Games – and has recently underlined his credentials at the death, finishing with eight wickets in March’s Bangladesh Cricket League one-day competition. Saqlain, 28, offers hard-length seam, useful variations and the bonus of lower-order hitting.
“Ripon Mondol has been doing well for quite some time,” chief selector Habibul Bashar explained. “We can utilise his ability with the new ball and his death bowling has also been quite noticeable. Saqlain could be our bowling allrounder option. He has also shown good form recently.”
The panel have taken the opportunity to manage workloads ahead of a busy calendar that includes a home Test series against Pakistan in May. “We have been hoping to see him faces in the T20I side. This gave us the opportunity to rest Nahid Rana and Taskin. Rana obviously needs the rest with the Test series (against Pakistan) coming up,” Bashar added.
Only two changes
Mondol and Saqlain are the sole additions to the group that beat Ireland in December. Batter-keeper Jaker Ali and middle-order hitter Mahidul Islam drop out after limited chances in that series.
Balanced pace unit
Even without Mustafizur’s cutters or Taskin’s pace, captain Litton Das can still turn to left-armer Shoriful Islam and new-ball seamer Tanzim Hasan Sakib, while Mohammad Saifuddin’s brisk medium-pace covers the middle overs. Mondol and Saqlain complete a varied attack that team management hope will exploit the generally slow, low Chattogram surface.
Batting continuity
The top order remains untouched. Litton partners either Saif Hassan or the free-scoring Tanzid Hasan, with Parvez Hossain Emon an aggressive back-up. Towhid Hridoy anchors the middle, supported by Nurul Hasan’s finishing and the spin-all-round talents of Mahedi Hasan and Nasum Ahmed. Rishad Hossain’s leg-spin and clean striking add late-innings impetus.
Schedule
The opening two matches take place at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on 27 and 29 April, before the series decider in Dhaka on 2 May. All three fixtures are evening starts, giving both sides a taste of conditions likely to prevail at this year’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA.
Outlook
New Zealand, arriving without several IPL-constrained regulars, still boast Trent Boult’s experience and a clutch of adaptable white-ball specialists. Bangladesh will view the series as a chance to broaden their fast-bowling pool and test bench strength under pressure. Success, though, will hinge on how quickly the new-look attack adjusts to international tempo.
Bangladesh squad (first two T20Is)
Litton Das (capt, wk), Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Shamim Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Ripon Mondol, Mohammad Saifuddin, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain.
Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana remain available for the final match if required, with selectors set to review workloads once the Chattogram leg is complete.
