Taskin, Nahid Rana return for T20Is against Australia


Bangladesh have brought Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana back in their T20I side for the three-match series against Australia beginning next week after being rested for Bangladesh's last T20I series, against New Zealand in April. To make room for Taskin and Rana, the first-choice bowlers, the selectors had to drop seamer Ripon Mondol and seam-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin. Taskin's last T20I was against Zimbabwe in October 2025, while Rana has only played one T20I since May of last year. The pace attack also has Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, who was picked against New Zealand but didn't play a match in the series. Towhid Hridoy has also been called up by the selectors as one of four additions to the Test squad for the one-off match against Zimbabwe that will take place in Harare later this month. Hridoy has played 52 ODIs and 59 T20Is since making his international debut in 2023 but has limited first-class experience. Chief selector Habibul Bashar, however, said that Hridoy had been picked to add to the aggression with the bat. Hridoy has scored three centuries in 16 first-class matches in his career. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Taskin and Rana have been rested from the Test squad, which Bashar said was part of the team management's rotation policy. One of the players included is medium pacer Robiul Haque, who, Bashar said, could be nurtured as a fast-bowling allrounder. In 32 first-class matches, Robiul has scored 620 runs and taken 107 wickets. Additionally, Khaled Ahmed has rejoined the team. Bangladesh will play the three T20Is against Australia on June 17, 19 and 21 in Chattogram. The Test will begin on June 28 and the squad will depart for Harare on June 23. Bangladesh squad for T20Is vs Australia Litton Das (c), Parvez Hossain, Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Shamim Hossain, Tawhid Hridoy, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain