Gazi’s last Twenty20 International for Bangladesh came against Australia in April 2014
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Bangladesh off-spinner Sohag Gazi is on track to make his Twenty20 International comeback after being included in the 14-man squad for the two-match Twenty series against South Africa.
Gazi has not played a Twenty20 International since April 2014 and has not represented Bangladesh since August last year as he was suspended for having an illegal bowling action in October. However, after undergoing months of remedial work, Gazi was cleared to bowl again in February.
“We wanted a specialist offspinner so we picked Sohag Gazi,” Bangladesh chief selector Faruque Ahmed told ESPNcricinfo. “He has been out for a while now, but now he is back with a new action.”
Bangladesh have also drafted pace bowler Rubel Hossain and leg-spinner Jubair Hossain, who has yet to make his Twenty20 debut, into the side.
All-rounder Mahmudullah and pace bowler Taskin Ahmed were both not selected as they are recovering from a finger injury and side strain respectively. Abul Hasan meanwhile was dropped as he has only taken two wickets in the four Twenty20 Internationals he has played.
Bangladesh T20 squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Litton Das, Rony Talukdar, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan (vice-capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Jubair Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman