DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday, announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, with veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan being a notable absentee.
The 37-year-old, who last represented Bangladesh in any format in October 2024, has been banned from bowling in competitions under the jurisdiction of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), based on the outcome of an independent re-assessment of his bowling action, conducted in Chennai last month.
Shakib, however, was eligible to play as a specialist batter but Bangladesh opted to not include him in their squad for the eight-team tournament.
Besides Shakib, Bangladesh will be without another senior player Tamim Iqbal, who called time on his glittering international career earlier this month, despite being approached by white-ball captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and other key members of the side.
Tamim played a pivotal role in leading Bangladesh to the semi-finals of the previous edition of the tournament, held in 2017 in England and Wales.
Meanwhile, other senior players – wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim and all-rounder Mahmudullah – managed to make a cut into the contingent.
Top-order batter Shanto will lead the Asian side in the eight-team tournament as he returned to the side after missing the West Indies tour in November last year.
He is accompanied by Rahim, Towhid Hridoy and Mustafizur Rahman as the senior trio also marked their return.
Bangladesh also handed a maiden ODI call-up to Parvez Hossai Emon, who has played seven T20Is for the Asian side, while prodigious pacer Nahid Rana, who made his debut in the format in recent series against the West Indies, has also managed to retain his place.
For the unversed, Bangladesh, drawn in Group A, will start their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against India on February 20 in Dubai, before taking on New Zealand and hosts Pakistan on February 24 and 27, respectively.
Bangladesh's squad for Champions Trophy 202: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana
- Shakib Al Hasan
