SPORTS REPORTER

Bangladesh have brought Litton Das and Afif Hossain back into the ODI fold for the upcoming series against Pakistan, starting on March 11, as middle-order failures saw Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain and Nurul Hasan Sohan get dropped.

The Tigers named a 15-member squad yesterday, with T20I skipper Litton -- who last played an ODI in July last year -- slotted into the squad to fulfil a middle-order role. He was dropped after the first ODI against Sri Lanka owing to poor form while injuries saw him miss the Afghanistan and West Indies series.

In his last eight ODI innings, Litton could not reach double digits and produced four ducks. In the recent Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), he struck one fifty in three knocks.

“There may be questions about Littos recent ODI form, but he has been working closely with the coaches on his game. We believe he can soon produce his best in this format and are considering him as an option to strengthen the middle order,” BCB chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu was quoted as saying in the BCB media release on Thursday.

Afif struck a hundred in the BCL. Before that, the left-hander managed 317 runs in the last Dhaka Premier League (DPL) in 15 games, with one fifty at an average of 35.22.

Apparently, these numbers were enough to convince the board bring back Afif into the middle-order.

It was also apparent that Jaker, Shamim and Sohan have not done enough with the opportunities they were provided. “We have provided opportunities to several players in the middle order, but unfortunately, some have not done enough to secure their places. With that in mind, Afif Hossain has been recalled. He brings valuable experience and currently appears to be in fine touch,” Lipu said.

Meanwhile, pacer Hasan Mahmud, who is nursing a tennis elbow injury, has been left out of the squad. Tanzim Sakib, who is recovering from a back issue, was also left out as the BCB opted for precaution. Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana came in as replacements for the duo.

Meanwhile, Nasum Ahmed, who had appeared in the last two ODIs against the Windies, has also been excluded from the squad.

The squad for the Pakistan series are set to play a practice match against BCL All Stars XI on March 7.

Bangladesh squad: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana.