Bangladesh Appoints Towhid Hridoy as T20I Captain for Zimbabwe Series

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced Towhid Hridoy as the captain for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, starting on July 15. Regular skipper Litton Kumar Das has been granted leave to participate in the Lanka Premier League (LPL), alongside fast bowler Taskin Ahmed. The matches will be held at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on July 15, 17, and 19.

Key Squad Announcements

Notable inclusions in the squad include the return of in-form all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain, who impressed in the recent ODI series against Australia with 157 runs in three matches. Yasir Ali also returns to the T20I setup after nearly three years, last appearing during the Asian Games in October 2023. Mohammad Saifuddin has been recalled as a pace-bowling all-rounder after missing the home series against Australia.

Shamim Hossain has been rested due to a poor run of form, while BCB chief selector Habibul Bashar highlighted the need for a balanced pace-bowling unit. Najmul Hossain Shanto was considered for the top-order vacancy but did not make the squad this time.

BCB's Strategic Decisions

"We picked Mosaddek as he is carrying a good form with the bat while he can also be handy as an off-spinner," said Habibul Bashar. "As for Yasir Ali, we feel we need someone down the order who can clear the ropes at will. We want to go with two pacers and one pace-bowling all-rounder. So that's where Saifuddin comes in."

Series Schedule and Format

Bangladesh's white-ball tour of Zimbabwe begins on July 6 with a one-off Test in Harare, followed by a three-match ODI series at Harare Sports Club (July 6, 9, 11). The T20I series will be played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, with matches scheduled for July 15, 17, and 19.

Full T20I Squad

• Towhid Hridoy (captain)
• Parvez Hossain Emon
• Tanzid Hasan
• Mohammed Saif Hassan
• Mosaddek Hossain Saikat
• Yasir Ali Chowdhury
• Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan
• Mahedi Hasan
• Nasum Ahmed
• Rishad Hossain
• Shoriful Islam
• Mustafizur Rahman
• Nahid Rana
• Md Shaif Uddin
• Abdul Gaffar Saqlain

The BCB has emphasized the importance of experimenting with combinations ahead of the next World Cup, with Shanto and other players expected to get opportunities in future series.