DHAKA, Jan 12, 2025 (BSS)—The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the squad for the Champions Trophy today, keeping experienced batter Liton Das and pacer Shoriful Islam out of the squad.

Also Shakib Al Hasan was not considered since the BCB was not eager to play him as batter only. Shakib was reported with suspected bowling action and is yet to get the clearance to bowl again in International cricket despite sitting bowling tests twice in England and India.

“Liton Das has been out of form for quite some time now. He also couldn’t invoke the confidence in the recent time to force his case stronger,” BCB selection panel chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu said here today while announcing the team.

Liton scored just 13 runs in the last seven ODIs and if the last five matches are taken into consideration he made just six, including three duck.

“The pattern of his dismissal is similar. The opposition analysts are now successful with their plan against him. He couldn’t do anything to ruin their plan. So it’s high time that he should be given a break to work on his game,” Ashraf, also a former skipper of Bangladesh added.

According to Ashraf, pacer Shoriful Islam is yet to get his rhythm back after recovering from the injury. He is currently playing in the BPL.

“He is playing in BPL and from what we have seen, he is yet to get his best. He has been our key bowler but you know he got injured during the Canadian Premier League. He had already recovered from the injury but we think he still needs some times to get back his full fitness and rhythm.”

Ashraf also talked about Shakib, saying that they can’t play him only a batter.

“The thing is that we can’t play him as only batter. His bowling action found to be illegal and he is yet to correct his bowling action,” Ashraf informed.

“Those who are in the squad have been playing for a long time. They are in better form at this moment. Shakib hasn’t been playing ODI cricket since the last World Cup. We think we should give the preference to those who are regular in cricket.”

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and experienced campaigner Mushfiqur Rahim returned to the squad after missing the West Indies tour in November-December due to injury.

Apart from the duo, Towhid Hridoy and Mustafizur Rahman also made a return to the squad as the former missed the West Indies tour due to injury while the latter skipped the tour for personal reason.  Afif Hossain and Hasan Mahmud failed to retain their place.

The Champions Trophy will be held in UAE and Pakistan in February-March.

Bangladesh Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riayd, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali Anik, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman