On Friday, August 22, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) named a 16-man roster for the Asia Cup in September, which would be played in T20 format. The event will be held in the United Arab Emirates and will include eight teams.
The Bangladesh selectors have called up wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan and all-rounder Saif Hassan to the senior men’s squad for the continental championship. Veteran all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz and top-order hitter Mohammad Naim, both of whom were part in Bangladesh’s 2-1 victory over Pakistan in Dhaka last month, were not included.
The same 16-member side will compete in a three-match T20I series against the Netherlands, which begins on August 30. Mehidy would have missed the Netherlands matches for personal reasons, but he also lost his spot in the Asia Cup. The new ODI skipper returned to the T20I squad following Bangladesh’s 2-1 loss to the UAE, but he failed to perform to his full ability. He has been selected one of four standby players.
Nurul’s last T20I appearance was in the 2022 World Cup in Australia, where he scored 41 runs in five innings. The 31-year-old had a much better season in 2024-25, scoring 513 runs at 132.90 strike rate in the Bangladesh Premier League, National Cricket League, and Global Super League (GSL). Nurul, who was born in Khulna, had led Rangpur Riders to the maiden GSL title last year.
Litton Das will continue his role as the captain of Bangladesh in the shortest format of the game.
Meanwhile, the bowling line-up will have the experienced trio of Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, and Shoriful Islam available. All eyes will be on Jaker Ali in the batting department as he has been in stunning form in recent months.
Bangladesh are placed in Group B in the Asia Cup. They will begin their campaign on September 11 against Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Their next two games will be against Sri Lanka on September 13 and Afghanistan on September 16 at the same venue.
Bangladesh squad for Asia Cup and Netherlands T20Is: Litton Das (C, WK), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin.
Reserves – Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud.
India
