Towhid Hridoy to captain Bangladesh in Zimbabwe T20Is as Litton, Mehidy sit out
Synopsis
Bangladesh's senior core is in Sri Lanka for the Lanka Premier League, leaving Towhid Hridoy to captain a reshuffled side against Zimbabwe from 15 July. It is his second T20I captaincy assignment in as many months — and a real opportunity for the fringe players recalled to the squad to stake a permanent claim.
Key Takeaways
Towhid Hridoy named captain for Bangladesh's 3-match T20I series against Zimbabwe , starting 15 July in Bulawayo .
Litton Das , Mehidy Hasan Miraz , Taskin Ahmed , and Hasan Mahmud are absent due to Lanka Premier League commitments after receiving NOCs.
This is Hridoy's second T20I captaincy ; he first led Bangladesh against Australia last month.
Mohammad Saifuddin , Yasir Ali , and Mosaddek Hossain return to the squad; Shamim Hossain is dropped.
Bangladesh lost the one-off Test in Harare by an innings and 85 runs before the limited-overs leg began.
All three T20Is will be played at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo on 15, 17, and 19 July .
Towhid Hridoy has been named captain of Bangladesh for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, beginning 15 July at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, after regular skipper Litton Das, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud were ruled out due to their commitments in the Lanka Premier League. The four players were granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, with the LPL schedule directly overlapping with the Zimbabwe T20I leg.
Hridoy's Second Stint at the Helm
This marks Hridoy's second time leading Bangladesh in T20 Internationals. He first captained the side during the three-match home series against Australia last month, stepping in for Litton, who was sidelined with a calf injury. Litton is reportedly recovering and is expected to regain fitness before the second ODI of the Zimbabwe tour.
Squad Changes from the Australia Series
Bangladesh have reshuffled the squad that faced Australia. Mohammad Saifuddin, Yasir Ali, and Mosaddek Hossain have been recalled to the national setup, while Shamim Hossain has been dropped. The 15-member squad features two wicket-keepers — Parvez Hossain Emon and Nurul Hasan — alongside experienced campaigners Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, and Rishad Hossain.
Tour Context: A Difficult Start
The Zimbabwe tour has already begun on a sombre note for Bangladesh. The visitors lost the one-off Test in Harare by an innings and 85 runs, a result that has added pressure on the limited-overs leg. A three-match ODI series is currently underway, having commenced on 6 July, ahead of the T20I fixtures.
Full Schedule and Squad
All three T20Is will be held at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo — on 15 July, 17 July, and 19 July. The full squad is: Towhid Hridoy (captain), Parvez Hossain Emon (wicket-keeper), Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Mosaddek Hossain, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan (wicket-keeper), Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Mohammad Saifuddin, and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain. With several senior names absent, the series offers Bangladesh's fringe players a chance to press their case ahead of a packed international calendar.
Point of View
Does the selectors' plan to restore Litton automatically hold? The Test loss in Harare by an innings and 85 runs adds urgency to the limited-overs leg; a T20I series defeat with a depleted squad would further complicate Bangladesh's form narrative ahead of a busy international calendar.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Towhid Hridoy captaining Bangladesh against Zimbabwe?
Towhid Hridoy has been appointed captain because regular skipper Litton Das and three other senior players — Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, and Hasan Mahmud — are unavailable for the T20I series due to their Lanka Premier League commitments. The Bangladesh Cricket Board granted them NOCs, leaving Hridoy to lead the side.
When and where is the Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe T20I series?
The three-match T20I series begins on 15 July, with further matches on 17 July and 19 July. All three games will be played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Who has been recalled to Bangladesh's T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series?
Mohammad Saifuddin, Yasir Ali, and Mosaddek Hossain have been recalled to the squad. Shamim Hossain, who was part of the Australia series squad, has been left out.
Is Litton Das injured or rested for the Zimbabwe T20Is?
Litton Das is recovering from a calf injury he sustained before the Australia series. He is reportedly expected to be fit in time for the second ODI of the Zimbabwe tour but has been ruled out of the T20I leg.
How has Bangladesh's Zimbabwe tour gone so far?
Bangladesh's tour began poorly, with the side losing the one-off Test in Harare by an innings and 85 runs. A three-match ODI series, which started on 6 July, preceded the T20I fixtures.
