Batter Rabbi added to squad to replace Shakib on NZ tour

Bangladesh selectors added Fazle Rabbi Mahmud to the Test squad for the New Zealand tour to replace Shakib Al Hasan, BCB confirmed on Wednesday.

The 34-year old batter scored the most runs in the recently concluded 23rd National Cricket League where he made 630 runs at an average of 60.30.

Rabbi’s late inclusion came after ace all-rounder Shakib took leave from the NZ tour citing family reasons.

Shakib was included in the squad when BCB announced the first list. But within a few hours after the announcement, Shakib sent a letter to BCB requesting a leave.

Bangladesh will face the hosts in a two-match Test series in January 2022 which will be a part of the 2021-2023 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.

The Bangladesh team will leave for New Zealand on Wednesday night for the series with the Tests scheduled in Tauranga and Christchurch

Meanwhile, former Sri Lanka spin legend Rangana Herath has agreed to a two-year term as spin bowling coach of the Tigers.

Herath will join the Bangladesh coaching team in New Zealand.

His contract is until the end of November 2023. Herath had earlier been the team’s spin consultant for the away series against Zimbabwe this year followed by the home series against Australia and New Zealand and the ICC Twenty20 World Cup.

Bangladesh squad for New Zealand tour: Mominul Haque (Captain), Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed Rahi, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Shohidul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mohammad Naim, Fazle Rabbi Mahmud.