Uncapped Fazle Mahmud replaces Shakib for NZ tour

Uncapped Fazle Mahmud has been added to the squad for Bangladesh's upcoming tour of New Zealand as a replacement of premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who opted out of the two-Test series citing personal reasons.

This is the left-handed batter's maiden call-up to the Test squad, earned after a stellar showing in the recently concluded National Cricket League (NCL) in which the 33-year-old remained the leading scorer with 630 runs at an average of 60.30. 

Earlier, Shakib, despite verbally communicating his unavailability to BCB, was included in the initial 18-member squad announced for the New Zealand tour. BCB, however, had later confirmed that it had accepted Shakib's official leave application.   

Fazle, meanwhile, had featured in two ODIs for Bangladesh against Zimbabwe in 2018 but could not leave a mark as he was dismissed for ducks in both matches.

The Bangladesh team will leave for New Zealand in the early hours tomorrow for the series which is part of the 2021-2023 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. The first Test will begin next year on January 1 in Tauranga while the last Test of the series will be held in Christchurch on January 9.

SQUAD:

Mominul Haque (Captain), Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Kumer Das, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Yasir Ali Rabbi, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Shohidul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Md Naim Sheikh, Fazle Rabbi Mahmud.