Bangladesh cricket chiefs on Tuesday axed aggressive opening batsman Tamim Iqbal for the Asia Cup starting in Dhaka on March 11.
Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza returned to the 14-man squad after steering Dhaka Gladiators to victory in the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 competition.
Tamim, widely regarded as Bangladesh's No. 1 batsman, was overlooked despite being declared fit from a groin injury he sustained during the BPL.
Chairman of selectors Akram Khan told that Tamim's name was not approved by Bangladesh Cricket Board president Mustafa Kamal. “It's a decision of the president,” Khan said. “He selected the final squad, not us.”
The return of Mortaza, a right-arm fast bowler who had been out of the national side for a year because of a knee injury, will bolster the bowling attack.
Opener Anamul Haque is the only uncapped player in the squad, while batsman Mohammad Nazimuddin, wicketkeeper-batsman Jahurul Islam and seamer Shahadat Hossain earned recalls after good showings in domestic leagues.
The squad: Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Nazimuddin, Jahurul Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Elias Sunny, Nazmul Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Shahadat Hossain and Anamul Haque.
