Bangladesh on Thursday recalled opening batsman Imrul Kayes in their 15-man squad for the three-match, one-day international series against the West Indies in the Caribbean next month.
Kayes replaced all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is serving a six-month ban imposed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for what it said was his “severe attitude problem”, after a string of run-ins with fans and officials.
Read more: Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan makes play for reinstatement
Shakib appealed against the ban last week, but BCB officials said his request would only be considered after the West Indies tour is completed.
“It’s very difficult to replace a player of Shakib’s calibre,” chief selector Faruque Ahmed said. “He fills the role of two players – a batsman and a spinner. But we can take only one player in his place. Finally we have decided to take a batsman ... as we felt we have enough back-up in the spin-bowling department.”
Ahmed said that Kayes had shown good form recently: “Also, he can be a back-up to our under-performing openers.”
Paceman Rubel Hossain also returned to the side, replacing all-rounder Ziaur Rahman.
The first two ODIs will be held at Grenada on August 20 and 22.
The third and final ODI will be held in St Kitts on August 25.
The Bangladesh team, who arrive in the Caribbean on August 13, will also play a Twenty20 International and two Tests in the series.
Afghanistan rally back to level ODI series 2-2 with Zimbabwe
Afghanistan came from 2-0 down to draw the one-day international series with Zimbabwe 2-2 after a 100-run victory in the final game on Thursday.
Afghanistan made 259 at Queens Sports Club and bowled Zimbabwe out for 159. The victory gave Afghanistan a share of the spoils in its first ODI series against a Test-playing nation.
The visitors’ score was based on contributions from the middle order, after they had fallen to 62 for three early in their innings, with wicketkeeper-batsman Shafiqullah top-scoring with 56 from 43 balls, which included three boundaries and two sixes.
Donald Tiripano took five for 63 for Zimbabwe. The Afghanistan bowlers secured victory by bowling out Zimbabwe in 38 overs.
Left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf led with figures of three for 29, while Dawlat Zadran and Aftab Alam took two wickets each. Richmond Mutumbami made 64 for Zimbabwe on his ODI debut.
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