Bangladesh have announced their squad for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy. Najmul Hossain Shanto returns to lead the side after missing the last couple of months due to a groin injury. There are a couple of big exclusions in the form of Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das.
Shakib’s omission is not a big surprise, given his recent ban from bowling due to suspect action. The veteran left-arm spinning all-rounder gave a re-test for his bowling action at the Sri Ramachandra Centre for Sports Science in Chennai but he couldn’t clear that. This is the second time he has failed the test.
Thus, Bangladesh have decided to move on from Shakib. It seems like this could be the end of the road for the 37-year-old in international cricket. He had earlier hinted at retiring from ODIs after the 2025 Champions Trophy. Hence, he has missed the bus for the eight-team tournament and we could’ve seen the last of Shakib in Bangladesh colours.
Another big exclusion is that of Litton Das. The 30-year-old wicket-keeper batter got three ducks in the five innings he played in the 50-over format in 2024. In fact, he scored a mere six runs in five ODIs last year. He has gone 13 innings without a half-century in ODI cricket.
Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud and Afif Hossain are the other players who have been left out. The former two were a part of the squad that travelled to the Caribbean but played just one game each. Meanwhile, Afif got scores of 28, 24 and 15 in the three ODIs against West Indies. He made only 105 runs in eight innings in the 50-over format in 2023.
Shanto back as captain as Rahim, Hridoy and Mustafizur return to the Bangladesh squad
Shanto is back as captain after a two-month injury layoff. He has featured in a couple of T20 tournaments in Bangladesh. Apart from him, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy and Mustafizur Rahman are the ones who return to the squad after missing the series against West Indies last month. Rahim injured his finger during the ODI series against Afghanistan but it has now been fixed. Meanwhile, Hridoy has recovered fully from his groin injury.
Bangladesh had reached the semi-finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy before they lost to India. Their first game of the 2025 edition is scheduled to be played on the 20th of February against India in Dubai.
SQUAD: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicket-keeper), Jaker Ali (wicket-keeper), Mehidy Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.
