Uncapped Hider in Bangladesh preliminary T20 squad

A bumper performance in the recently-concluded Bangladesh Premier League helped uncapped left-arm seamer Abu Hider earn his maiden call-up to a preliminary Bangladesh squad for a proposed T20 series against Zimbabwe in mid-January, February's Asia Cup T20 in and the World T20 in March.

Hider took 21 wickets from 12 matches, one short of equalling the top-wicket taker in BPL, at an average of 15.04 and economy rate of 6.91. Batsman Mosaddek Hossain, left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib and wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan are the other uncapped players in a squad of 30, who will meet for a training camp that begins on January 3.

Pacemen Shafiul Islam, Mohammad Shahid, Abul Hasan and Taskin Ahmed, batsmen Mohammad Mithun and Jahurul Islam and spinner Shuvagata Hom have also been included despite not playing T20s for Bangladesh in their last assignment, against Zimbabwe in November.

The chief selector Faruque Ahmed said they had to keep fast bowler Rubel Hossain out of the preliminary squad due to his calf injury and added they don't have opening batsman Rony Talukdar and legspinner Jubair Hossain in their immediate plans.

The BCB are still working on plans to have a three or five-match T20 series against Zimbabwe, ahead of the Asia Cup and World T20.