Shahadat gets surprise call in BCB XI

Bangladesh pacer Shahadat Hossain got a surprise call-up for the BCB XI who will play the only three-day practice match against visiting Zimbabwe at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium in Chittagong, starting Monday. 

Shahadat, who played his last Test match back in 2015 and did not represent Bangladesh in the other formats after 2013, was one of the 12 players who will feature in the match ahead of the two-Test series.

The squad consists of as many as four fast bowlers as Rubel Hossain, Abu Haider and Ebadat Hossain are also included in the squad. 

Rubel missed Bangladesh’s last Test when the Tigers faced the West Indies in a losing cause in Kingston, earlier this year; Haider is yet to make his debut, while Ebadat is yet to play any international game. 

However, Abu Jayed and Kamrul Islam Rabbi, who featured in Bangladesh’s last Test, were not included in the side. 

The 12-man side also has two wicketkeeper-batsmen in the shape of Zakir Hasan and Nurul Hasan and three national discards - Mosaddek Hossain, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Ariful Haque - who will also feature. 

Fazle Mahmud, who made two ducks in the first two ODIs in the series against Zimbabwe, also got a place while another opener Mizanur Rahman and young all-rounder Afif Hossain filled the other two spots.

Squad

Fazle Mahmud Rabbi, Mizanur Rahman, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Zakir Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Ariful Haque, Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Ebadat Hossain, Abu Haider, Rubel Hossain and Shahadat Hossain