Soumya Sarkar recalled as Bangladesh name squad for Afghanistan T20s

 
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the squad for the upcoming three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan, scheduled to be held in Sharjah, UAE on October 2, 3 and 5.

Bangladesh gear up for white-ball series against Afghanistan after their hopes to play the final of the Asia Cup was shattered following a 11-run defeat to Pakistan.

Jaker Ali Anik will lead Bangladesh's T20I team in the absence of regular skipper Litton Kumer Das, who remains unavailable due to injury. Litton picked up the problem during the Asia Cup earlier this month and has yet to regain full fitness.

Left-handed batter SoumyaSarkar has been recalled to the T20 squad for the Afghanistan series. The 32-year-old is the only change from the group that represented Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.

The opener is currently featuring for Khulna in the NCL T20 competition. Now, he is set to join the national side in the UAE for the series. Soumya has been in excellent form with the bat for Khulna in the NCL T20.

In the two matches he has played so far, he has showcased his striking ability. Against Rajshahi, he smashed 63 off 34 balls with six fours and four sixes, while against Dhaka Metro, he struck 45 off 33 balls, hitting four boundaries and three maximums.

In the series hosted by Afghanistan in their adopted venue in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh will play three T20 Internationals and as many ODIs.

The three-match T20 Internationals will mark the beginning of the series with Sharjah Cricket Stadium hosting those matches on October 2, 3 and 5.The ODI series will take place at Sheik Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi with the opening game on October 8, followed by last two matches on October 11 and 14.

The Asia Cup will end on Sunday when Pakistan and India met in a high voltage final.

Bangladesh met Afghanistan in the group phase of the Asia Cup and won the game by eight runs, to keep them psychologically ahead. But in the overall T20 record, Afghanistan still holds edge by slim margin. The Afghans won seven and lost six against Bangladesh in 13 meetings.

Bangladesh, however, have the upper-hand over Afghans in ODI format, winning 11 and losing six in 19 contests.

Bangladesh squad for Afghanistan series

Jaker Ali Anik (Captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rishad Hossain, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Soumya Sarkar.