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Mohammad Saifuddin. | BCB photo.

Bangladesh pace bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin returned to the national fold after an 18-month hiatus as he听was included听in the 15-member Bangladesh squad for the first three matches of the five-match Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe starting at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram听on听May 3.

The 27-year-old has not played for Bangladesh since the tri-nation series match against Pakistan in Christchurch in October听2022听as he suffered from a recurring back pain, which forced him to go under the knife.


Other than him, the 15-member squad also saw the return of Afif Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, and Tanvir Islam, while uncapped Tanzid Hasan Tamim also made the cut.

Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mohammad Naim, and Taijul Islam were dropped from the squad for the series against Sri Lanka last month, while听Soumya Sarkar听was not included听as he is recovering from his injury. Pacer Mustafizur Rahman, the other player from that squad to听be not included, has been left out as he will be given recovery time following his return from the Indian Premier League after May 1.听

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was due to play from the third T20I听but听he听was not included听in the squad听and听it听is understood听that he will join the Tigers in Dhaka for the last two matches of the series scheduled on May 10 and 12.

Bangladesh will face the visitors at the ZACS in the initial three games on May 3, 5, and 7.听

Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanvir Islam, Afif Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin.