Ripon and Saqlain are the only inclusions to the Bangladesh side since their last T20I series against Ireland in December, while Jaker Ali and Mahidul Islam have been dropped. Taskin and Rana weren’t part of the T20I squad at that time but have been an integral part of the ODI side in recent months.
Ripon, who played three T20Is in the 2023 Asian Games, has emerged as a death overs specialist in recent times. He finished as the second-highest wicket-taker, with eight wickets, in the BCL one-day tournament in March. Saqlain, 28, has shown the ability to bowl hard lengths and use his variations, and is also known for his big-hitting skills.
“Ripon Mondol has been doing well for quite some time,” chief selector Habibul Bashar said. “We can utilise his ability with the new ball and his death bowling has also been quite noticeable. Saqlain could be our bowling allrounder option. He has also shown good form recently.
“We have been hoping to see him faces in the T20I side. This gave us the opportunity to rest Nahid Rana and Taskin. Rana obviously needs the rest with the Test series (against Pakistan) coming up.”
The first two T20Is in Chattogram are set to be played on April 27 and 29 before the third T20I in Dhaka on May 2.
Litton Das (capt, wk), Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Shamim Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Ripon Mondol, Mohammad Saifuddin, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain.