Ashraful returns to ODI squad

Injuries to several players have forced the Bangladesh selectors to make four changes to the ODI squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. Mohammad Ashraful, Nazmul Hossain, Abul Hasan and Mosharraf Hossain have been drafted in to replace the injured trio of Mashrafe Mortaza, Shafiul Islam and Naeem Islam, while Elias Sunny has been dropped.

Mortaza and Naeem had not recovered sufficiently from injuries suffered during the Bangladesh Premier League, while Shafiul suffered a side-strain during the pre-tour camp earlier this month. Mortaza took a blow to his heel in the BPL final, sustaining a contusion injury that hampers his landing during delivery stride. Naeem was injured in the second week of February after he stepped on a ball during fielding, but he aggravated the injury by playing a few matches immediately afterwards, according to the Chittagong Kings physio. Shafiul picked up his injury while playing a league match in his hometown in Bogra.

Abul and Nazmul were straight swaps for Mortaza and Shafiul. Nazmul has been in and out of the side for the last two years, having last played ODI cricket in the 2012 Asia Cup. He is the more senior of the two returning players; Abul has played just two ODIs. Rubel Hossain is the other pace bowling option in the squad.

Mosharraf, a left-arm spinner, has been recalled after five years. His domestic form was impressive in the last two seasons, and he was the Player of the Match in the BPL final. Bangladesh no longer has List-A cricket, so his last performance in one-day format was good too. Mosharraf took 28 wickets for Victoria Sporting Club in the Dhaka Premier League and was the second highest wicket-taker behind Shakib Al Hasan, who is still recuperating from an operation on his leg to reduce the strain on his shin.

Bangladesh play the first two ODIs in Hambantota on March 23 and 25 before playing the final game of the series in Pallekele on March 28.

ODI squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Jaharul Islam, Mohammad Ashraful, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Hossain, Mosharraf Hossain, Abul Hasan, Ziaur Rahman.