Several senior Bangladesh cricketers, including Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Liton Kumar Das, will not play in the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand.
The series, which will be played in Bangladesh from September 21-26, is seen as a warm-up for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Shakib and Mushfiqur have been rested to manage their workload ahead of the World Cup. Liton, who is the current ODI captain, will also miss the series due to a finger injury.
Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad are expected to return to the team in their place. Tamim has been out of action since the T20 World Cup last year, while Mahmudullah has been struggling with form.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is yet to announce the full squad for the New Zealand series.
The decision to rest Shakib, Mushfiqur, and Liton is a surprise, as they are all key players for Bangladesh. However, it is understandable given the workload they have been through in recent months.
Shakib has been in excellent form in recent months, scoring 606 runs in 10 ODIs at an average of 60.60. Mushfiqur has also been in good touch, scoring 382 runs in 10 ODIs at an average of 38.20.
Liton has been the captain of the ODI team since the retirement of Mashrafe Mortaza in 2020. He has led the team to 11 wins in 18 matches.
The New Zealand series will be a good opportunity for Bangladesh to test their bench strength ahead of the World Cup. The team will also be looking to get some momentum going after a disappointing Asia Cup campaign.
Bangladesh will be hoping to put up a good show against New Zealand and make a statement ahead of the World Cup.
