Sports

Rabbi included in 15-man BD squad for Zim series

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-man squad including new face Fazle Rabbi for the upcoming ODI series against Zimbabwe scheduled to begin from October 21.

The hosts will be without the services of seasoned all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is still nursing the left-finger injury from January which he aggravated during the Asia Cup, said an ICC press release.

Tamim Iqbal is also unavailable due to the fracture he picked up in the first game of the tournament.

Soumya Sarkar, who was a part of Bangladesh's 17-man squad as well, has been left out for the Zimbabwe ODI series. Mosaddek Hossain also misses out on the 15-man squad.

Right-arm pacer Saifuddin, who last represented Bangladesh in February, has a chance to cement his place in the playing XI with strong performances against Zimbabwe.

Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza will be keen to leave behind the disappointment of losing out to India in the final of the Asia Cup in Dubai by leading his team to an emphatic victory in this series. Experienced campaigners like Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, and Rubel Hossain have retained their place in the squad.

Squad

Mashrafe bin Mortaza (C), Liton Kumar Das, Imrul Kayes, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Ariful Haque, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Nazmul Islam Apu, Rubel Hossain, Abu Haider Rony, Saifuddin and Fazle Rabbi Mahmud