Riyad, Anamul back

Fit-again all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad and opener Anamul Haque returned to the ODI fold as they were included in the 14-member squad for the first two games of the three-match series against South Africa scheduled to begin on Friday at Mirpur.

The axe fell on Mominul Haque and uncapped Rony Talukdar, while pacer Taskin Ahmed was yet to recover from his side strain. Left-handed Mominul played his last ODI match against Sri Lanka in Melbourne in the World Cup, but kept his place in the side for the last two home series against Pakistan and India.

The selectors finally dropped him to bring in opener Anamul as per the team management's demand.

Anamul had injured his right shoulder during the World Cup match against Scotland on March 5 and the right-handed batsman has now recovered from a subsequent shoulder operation and played three first-class matches, scoring a century and three fifties.

Chief selector Faruque Ahmed informed that Anamul did have discussions with captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza about his batting position and he would bat in the top order.

"We think Anamul is in form. We need him for a particular position. We discussed with the team management before picking him. He will play in the top order," said Faruque.

MAHMUDULLAH RIYAD

On the other hand, fitness was the issue for Riyad but Faruque said that they were assured by the team physio that the all-rounder was available for selection. Riyad, who hit back-to-back hundreds in the World Cup, had fractured his left index finger in June ahead of the India series and has been out for more than a month.

Faruque said that Talukdar could count himself unlucky after he was picked for the ODIs against Pakistan and India but did not get the opportunity to make his debut. Faruque also said that although Litton Das and Anamul had similar roles, the former was a better choice.

The former national skipper also said that while there was a slim chance to play with three pacers, they preferred to keep leg-spinner Jubair Hossain, who was brought into the side for the third and final ODI against India after Taskin suffered an injury.

SQUAD

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan (vice-captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Arafat Sunny,  Jubair Hossain, Rubel Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman.