No Shakib as Mahmudullah back in Tigers' squad for Sri Lanka series

Bangladesh ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan was left out of the T20 International and ODI squad for the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka, starting next month.

Veteran Mahmudullah Riyad however found his place in both of the format after showing a blazing performance in the World Cup in India last year and in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 tournament.

Offspinner Aliss Al Islam who was included in the T20 squad in the only new face.

Shakib Al Hasan has been suffering from a vision problem caused by an issue with the retina of his left eye.

The premier allrounder however couldn't confirm his availability during the Sri Lanka series, something which was the chief reason to exclude him.

A day ago, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced Najmul Hossain Shanto as the captain for the side's all formats, replacing Shakib.

"We had talked to Shakib and till yesterday, he said his vision problem is not solved yet. Since the Sri Lanka series is ahead and there is also a series against Zimbabwe and then the World Cup, we had to announce Shanto as the captain. Shakib is always our first choice but the problem is his availability due to his vision problem is in doubt," BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon said yesterday (Monday) after a board of directors meeting.

As usually Tamim was out of the team since he is yet to decide on his International future. Tamim was also left out of the central contact, which indicates his International future is over.

The Sri Lanks series will be Bangladesh first International assignment in this year. Sri Lanka will arrive in Bangladesh on March 1 for three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests.

The series starts with three T20Is-which will be held on March 4, 6 and 9 at the Sylher International Cricket Stadium. The ODI series will be held at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on March 13, 15 and 18.

T20 Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Liton Das, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Md Naim Sheikh, Tawhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Mahmud Ullah, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Aliss Al Islam

ODI Squad (for 1st & 2nd ODIs)

Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman