Afif, Shoriful axed from 3rd ODI against Ireland

Middle order batter Afif Hossain and medium pacer Shoriful Islam were axed from the third and final one-day International against visiting Ireland, which will be held on Thursday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet.

They will now head to Dhaka to play the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) for their respective sides. The team however was trimmed to 14 from 16 after those two players were left out.

Bangladesh led the series 1-0 following their 183-run in the first ODI, which was their largest ever victory in this format. The second ODI was washed out after Bangladesh compiled its highest ever ODI total of 349-6, thanks to a blistering 60 ball-100 not out off Mushfiqur Rahim.

In doing so, Mushfiqur hit the fastest ODI ton by a Bangladeshi batter, eclipsing Shakib Al Hasan's 63-ball-century against Zimbabwe in 2009.

Following his poor form, Afif for the first time was dropped from the best XI during the third ODI against England. Later he couldn't make way in the first two ODIs against Ireland also. His absence mattered little as Bangladesh posted their two best totals in their history in those two matches.

Meanwhile, allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz recovered from the eye injury which he sustained during the team's football playing session ahead of the first ODI. He is now available for selection in the third match.

Bangladesh team for the third ODI: Tamim Iqbal (captain), Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Yasir Ali Rabbi, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Rony Talukdar and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Source: BSS