Pace bowler Al-Amin Hossain was recalled as Bangladesh announced their 14-member squad for first two one-day internationals against England on Sunday.
Selectors decided to bring back Al-Amin, whose omission from the squad during the just-concluded home series against Afghanistan raised quite a few eyebrows.
Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan 2-1 in the series but apart from skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza the other members of their pace bowling unit struggled in all three matches.
Rubel Hossain lost his place in the squad after second match against Afghanistan while Shafiul Islam, who had replaced Al-Amin in the original squad, also did not do anything extra-ordinary in the only game that he played.
Taskin Ahmed got seven wickets in three matches, but not before he received a battering from Afghan batsmen at patches.
The poor state of pace unit prompted the selectors to recall Al-Amin, who took the place of Rubel in the squad for the first two England ODIs.
‘He is a member of our ODI pool so it is not a fact that he is coming from nowhere,’ chief selector Minhajul Abedin told New Age regarding inclusion of Al-Amin.
‘The match fitness of Rubel [Hossain] is a concern so we decided to bring him [Al-Amin Hossain] back,’ he said.
Al-Amin was looking forward to grab the chance and thanked the selectors for keeping faith on him.
‘Naturally I am delighted to get back into the squad,’ said Al-Amin.
‘We are playing very competitive cricket these days so you need to take up the opportunities provided by the selectors,’ said the 26-year old right-handed bowler.
Selectors also dropped left-arm spinner Taijul Islam from the squad and retained Mosharraf Hossain, who impressed with 3-24 in the third Afghanistan ODI, playing his first match in more than eight years.
Minhajul said that they had kept faith on Mosharraf instead of Taijul as he had proved his worth in the only opportunity that he got in Afghanistan series.
‘Rubel [Mosharraf Hossain] bowled well and deserved a place while there is always scope for Taijul to return as we rate him highly,’ he said.
Considering his age, Mosharraf, who will turn 35 next month, is being viewed as an interim solution as Tigers are desperately looking for a suitable partner for their ace left-arm spinner Sakib al Hasan.
Minhajul added that they are relieved as there is no big concern about Mashrafee bin Murtaza despite he fell down while bowling the second delivery of his second over.
Masharfee is known to have a history of injuries so his unexpected fall down came as a big concern before he returned to bowling leaving behind all doubts.
‘As he did not require any x-ray it is implied that there is no big concern with him,’ said Minhajul.
Squad: Mashrafee bin Murtaza [captain], Sakib al Hasan [vice-captain], Tamim Iqbal ,Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Mosharraf Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain, Taskin Ahmed.