Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal are back as Bangladesh names its team for the New Zealand series.

Tamim Iqbal, a former captain of Bangladesh, will soon make his long-awaited comeback to international cricket following a back ailment.

He had earlier in the year declared his retirement from international cricket, but after speaking with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he reconsidered. Since the southpaw hasn’t participated in national team competition since then, his inclusion will help Bangladesh’s spirits ahead of the ODI World Cup, which gets underway on October 5.

Mahmudullah Riyad was included on the list after all the negotiations about his future. He was dropped following the home series against England in March, and ever then, he has repeatedly stated that he has no knowledge of why he was discarded. Bangladesh has recalled the veteran cricketer following a disappointing showing in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, and the player might be very important in the series against New Zealand as well as the ODI World Cup.

For the first two ODIs of the series, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz will rest. Additionally resting was the pace trio of Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Shoriful Islam. They will be replaced in the center by Soumya Sarkar, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Zakir Hasan, Khaled Ahmed, and Rishad Hossain.

Some of the players are given respite, according to National Selection Panel Chairman Minhajul Abedin, to keep them healthy for the World Cup. The team, he continued, has an ideal mix of youth and experience, and they are optimistic about their prospects.

“The decision to rest players was made in light of the upcoming World Cup in India, which will be a lengthy competition where maintaining the cricketers’ mental and physical fitness will be crucial. In front of this important occasion, we can examine several more players through the series against New Zealand. The group has a mix of youth and experience, according to Zakir.

Bangladesh team for first two ODIs:

Liton Das (c), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Sheikh Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Zakir Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Khaled Ahmed.