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Wicketkeeper-batter Mahidul Islam Ankon earned his maiden ODI call-up as the Bangladesh Cricket Board on Thursday announced a 16-member squad for the forthcoming three-match series against the West Indies starting on October 18.Ìý

Experienced batter Soumya Sarkar also returned to the squad, while opener Mohammad Naim and fast bowler Nahid Rana were left out.Ìý

Mahidul, who played a Test against South Africa last year, has so far played 96 List A games while scoring 3,429 runs at an average of 44.53. He has four hundreds and 28 fifties in the format.Ìý

The chairman of the national selection panel, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, said that the 26-year-old’s inclusion came on the back of continued failures from the middle order.Ìý

Bangladesh were clean swept by Afghanistan in the recently concluded three-match ODI series, where batting continued to falter.Ìý

‘The middle order has struggled; almost everyone is in a run drought,’ said Ashraf. ‘We have included Mahidul Islam Ankon to strengthen that area. Bangladesh will play the next ODI World Cup in 2027, and we need to build a pool of competent players for that. Ankon is a promising name in that regard.’

He also said that Mahidul would provide some flexibility to the team management.Ìý

He said, ‘By bringing him in, we have increased the squad’s depth, which gives the captain and management more options. It also allows us to rest one or two players who haven’t been performing well.’

However, according to Ashraf, Soumya’s inclusion is based on his experience. The left-handed batter last played an ODI against India in the Champions Trophy.Ìý

He was initially included in the recently concluded T20I series against Afghanistan but couldn’t travel to the UAE due to visa complications.Ìý

‘Soumya is a very experienced player—he has played around 80 ODIs and has been part of the setup for nearly a decade,’ Ashraf said.Ìý

‘Around November last year, he performed quite well against the same West Indies team we are facing now. Since Liton Das is not in the squad, Soumya’s inclusion adds that needed experience at the top,’ he added.Ìý

Liton has been sidelined due to an injury since the latter part of the Asia Cup.Ìý

Naim, on the other hand, played the last ODI against Afghanistan and struggled in his innings of seven runs from 24 balls.Ìý

‘Our opening has not been very successful consistently. Especially in ODIs, we want someone who can bat deep into the innings. Saif Hassan is doing his job but needs to convert and play longer. Alongside him, we have brought back Soumya Sarkar for that role,’ Ashraf explained.

Nahid, who left the field without his ninth over in the third ODI against Afghanistan, was left out due to his performance. He remained wicketless while conceding 56 runs from 8.2 overs.Ìý

‘We have not kept Nahid Rana in the bowling department in place of the five fast bowlers. Four of the previous fast bowlers remain,’ Ashraf said.

The second and third ODIs of the series will be played on October 21 and 23, respectively. All three matches will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.Ìý

Squad: Mehidy Hassan Miraz (Captain), Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarker, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam Anton, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud.

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