Liton Das Misses Zimbabwe Tour, Tauhid Hira Takes Over Captaincy

Dhaka, July 1 – The Bangladesh Cricket Board has finalized its squad for the three‑match T20 series against Zimbabwe after a demoralising 85‑run loss in the lone Test. With Liton Das unavailable due to his Lanka Premier League (LPL) contract, the board has promoted Tauhid Hira to the captain’s role. Also left out are regulars Mehid Hasan Miraz, Taskeen Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud, all of whom are tied up with LPL duties.

Hira’s appointment is his second stint in charge of a T20 side, having led the team in a recent home series versus Australia when Das was sidelined with a finger injury. The regular skipper’s thumb injury is improving, and he is expected to rejoin the squad before the second One‑Day International on the tour.

The LPL will be contested between July 17 and August 8, and four Bangladeshi players have obtained No Objection Certificates for participation. The board also made changes to the squad that toured Australia, reinstating Mohammad Saifuddin, Yasir Ali and Mosaddik Hussain while dropping Shamim Hussain.

The first T20 encounter is set for July 15 at Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club, with the second and third fixtures on July 17 and July 19 respectively at the same venue. Ahead of the T20 series, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will play a three‑match ODI series at Harare Sports Club, giving the hosts a chance to recover from the heavy Test loss.