Bangladesh have included Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, an uncapped left-arm pace bowler, in their 15-man ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Ireland in Chelmsford, starting May 9. Meanwhile, fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who was ruled out of the one-off Ireland Test due to a side strain, has failed to make the cut. While Abedin admitted that Ahmed’s absence was a significant blow, he added that it was an opportunity for the others to step up. Abedin explained that Chowdhury’s ability to swing the ball and be effective in English conditions made him an attractive option for the selection panel. The return of pace bowler Shoriful Islam and left-arm spinner Taijul Islam is another highlight of the squad. However, left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed has failed to retain his spot despite performing reasonably well against Ireland. “We are looking at everyone, and for the tour, we want to see Taijul. But that does not imply everything is over for Nasum. Ahead of the World Cup, we are trying to look at a few options, and this is one such move,” Abedin said. In addition, Litton Das and Mustafizur Rahman are expected to return from the ongoing Indian Premier League before the start of the tour. The foreign coaching panel, headed by Chandika Hathurusingha, will also return on April 23 to prepare the team for the upcoming Ireland tour. Ireland will be eager to sweep aside Bangladesh to guarantee themselves a place in the next World Cup in India later this year. However, if they fail to do so, they will have to play in the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe in June-July. Bangladesh is slated to play the first ODI against Ireland on May 9, followed by the second and third ODI on May 12 and 14, respectively. This squad selection marks a significant opportunity for younger, relatively untested players like Mrittunjoy to step up to the challenge and stake their claim in the national side. Additionally, the return of a few experienced players and the introduction of new talents will add more depth to the Bangladesh team. Overall, Bangladesh will be looking to make a strong statement in the limited-overs series against Ireland ahead of the all-important World Cup later this year. The series will be an excellent opportunity for Bangladesh to test their bench strength and identify the right combination of players for the upcoming tournament.
