Taskin expected to play Pakistan series

Bangladesh's pace bowler Taskin Ahmed is available for the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan despite not being part of upcoming BCL one-day tournament, a competition organized by Bangladesh Cricket Board as part of the preparation for the hosts.

BCB chief physician Debashish Chowdhury confirmed the development to Cricbuzz on Monday, a day after Bangladesh Cricket Board announced squads for the four teams of the competition, scheduled to begin on February 23.

"He (Taskin) is available for the upcoming home series against Pakistan," said Debashish.

"He (Taskin) doesn't have any injury, he was feeling unwell from infection, due to infection he rested for many days, he had infection in his lungs due to which he could not practice for several days and as a result of not practicing he gained some workload issues," he said.

"If he doesn't gradually build up his workload he can't suddenly go to a game and play," he said.

"Pakistan series is coming up, he doesn't have any new injury and now he just needs time to increase his workload but he's not doubtful for Pakistan series," he said.

Bangladesh are looking to use this competition as preparation for the three-match ODI series against Pakistan later in March.

After the series in March, both teams are slated to face each other once again in May for a two-match Test series.

Cricketers banned from BPL allowed in BCL

Meanwhile, opener Anamul Haque Bijoy and middle order Mossadek Hossain, who were among the several cricketers barred from taking part in the Bangladesh Premier League for suspicious activities, returned to competitive cricket through this tournament.

Red-flagged cricketers who missed the BPL's 12th edition over alleged corruption have also failed to make the cut for the just concluded Odommo Bangladesh T20 Cup, a three-team tournament that was launched recently by the BCB to keep the national players busy as they were not taking part in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup following Bangladesh's decision to boycott the tournament due to security concerns.

"What I was telling you is that during the BPL, they were excluded only for that BPL based on the advice of Alex Marshall and BCB IU Integrity Unit. After that, if they participate in the remaining events - meaning by default, they will be able to participate in the rest unless they are stopped. So now, there is no need to take clearance again," Mahin M Rahman, counsel to the BCB's Integrity Unit and head of its legal team, told this website when his attention was drawn to the matter.

"That they don't need new permission because at that time we already told them that we only did not invite them for the 12th edition of the BPL," he said.

"But for the other tournaments we did not give any requirement to take permission," he said.