Bangladesh’s Aminul Islam returns home from T20 World Cup 2021; Rubel Hossain to stay as sole reserve player

Leg-spinner Aminul Islam Biplob has returned home from Bangladesh’s campaign in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021, the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed on Saturday, October 9. The 21-year-old Islam was two of the travelling reserves for the Tigers for the mega event in the UAE along with veteran fast bowler Rubel Hossain.

As per reports, Rubel has been kept keeping in mind slight injury concerns to their fast bowlers. Bangladesh have picked Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed and Mohammad Saifuddin as their fast-bowling options for the World Cup in the UAE. Rubel will come into the picture only when a speedster gets ruled out of the tournament.

“Biplob (Aminul) is returning. We have kept Rubel as part of precaution as couple of pace bowlers are carrying slight niggle,” national selector Habibul Bashar was quoted as saying to the reporters.

”Rubel will be with us for entire event as Reserve Player. In case any player ruled out, Rubel will join as player from the status of Reserve player and the rule is not new as this is in practice from 2017 Champions Trophy,” Rabeed Imam, senior manager media and communications of BCB, told Cricbuzz.

Updated Bangladesh squad

Mahmudullah Riyad (Captain), Mohammad Naim Sheikh, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shamim Hossain

Reserves: Rubel Hossain

Bangladesh are set to go to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, October 10 to play two warm-up matches against Sri Lanka and Ireland. Thereafter, the Tigers will return to Oman on Friday, October 15 for the first round of the World Cup. Mahmudullah Riyad, Bangladesh’s most successful T20I skipper, may not play the game against Sri Lanka due to a sore back.

Their first match is against Scotland on Sunday, October 17 at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), Al Amerat. In the same round, the Tigers will also lock horns with Oman and Papua New Guinea at the same venue on October 19 and 21 respectively. Bangladesh will be going into the event on the back of series wins against Zimbabwe, Australia and New Zealand.

Check the latest updates of the T20 World Cup schedule, T20 World cup Teams and Squads, T20 World Cup Points table, and more on CricTracker.