Shamim Returns to Bangladesh T20I Squad After Captain-Selector Dispute

Bangladesh have recalled middle-order batter Shamim Hossain for the third and deciding T20I against Ireland, scheduled for Tuesday, following a public disagreement between captain Litton Das and the national selectors.

The recall comes days after Litton openly criticised the selection panel for excluding Shamim from the squad without consulting him or head coach Phil Simmons. Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain had earlier justified Shamim’s omission, saying the team wanted to give Mahidul Islam Ankon an opportunity in the middle order.

“I think it would have been better if [Shamim] was in the team. But this is not my call; it is totally the selectors' call,” Litton said prior to the first T20I. “I don’t know why the selector dropped Shamim without giving us notice. I have known that a captain would know which player would be in or out of the team. I don’t see any reason behind Shamim getting dropped.”

Ashraf responded shortly after, insisting he did not require the captain’s permission for selection decisions. Despite that stance, the selectors have now opted to bring Shamim back into the squad.

Tensions between Litton and Ashraf reportedly date back to the ODI series against Sri Lanka last year, when Litton was dropped from the XI.

Shamim’s recent form has been poor—he recorded scores of 0, 0, 1, and 1 in his last four T20Is—but his return adds depth ahead of the series decider, with Bangladesh and Ireland locked at 1-1.

---

Bangladesh Squad for 3rd T20I vs Ireland

• Litton Das (capt, wk)

• Saif Hassan (vice-capt)

• Tanzid Hasan

• Parvez Hossain Emon

• Towhid Hridoy

• Jaker Ali

• Nurul Hasan

• Mahidul Islam

• Mahedi Hasan

• Rishad Hossain

• Nasum Ahmed

• Mustafizur Rahman

• Tanzim Hasan Sakib

• Shoriful Islam

• Mohammad Saifuddin

• Shamim Hossain