Tiger's WC squad announced

Bangladesh named injured pacer Taskin Ahmed as vice-captain in their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be held in West Indies and USA between 2 and 29 June this year.

Taskin, who sustained a side strain in the recently-concluded five-match series against Zimbabwe, is expected to be fit between the World Cup matches and thus the management named him in the squad as well as awarded the vice-captaincy.

“As far as our knowledge, he will be fit between the World Cup matches. As par the ICC rules, we can carry an injured player with the squad. But I don’t think he will be available to play against the USA in the three matches,” selection panel convenor Gazi Ashraf Hossain told reporters in Mirpur on Monday.

“We have a target to reach the next round…The first match is very important. Hopefully, we will do well in the World Cup,” he added.

Ashraf also said that they had all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin in the initial 15-member squad which was sent to the ICC but later, he was replaced by Tanzim Hasan Sakib after the former failed to perform as per expectations during the home series against Zimbabwe.

Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Taskin Ahmed (vice-captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sakrar, Tawhid Hridoy, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Liton Das, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Tanvir Islam.

Traveling reserves: Hasan Mahmud, Afif Hossain