Bangladesh add fast bowler to squad for ODI series decider

Bangladesh have boosted their fast bowling stocks by adding Tanzim Hasan Sakib to their squad for the third and final ODI against New Zealand in Chattogram.

Tanzim missed last month's series against Pakistan due to a back injury and was left out of Bangladesh's playing group for the opening two contests against the Black Caps as the teams won one match apiece.

But with pace having made such an impact already this series, Bangladesh have decided to include Tanzim in a 16-member squad for the series decider on Thursday.

Tanzim was Bangladesh's best performing fast bowler at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2024 where he claimed 11 wickets and the right-armer has been a mainstay in the side's white-ball setup since he made his international debut against India towards the end of 2023.

The inclusion of the 23-year-old provides Bangladesh with another pace option for the final match of the series against New Zealand, after fellow pacer Nahid Rana dominated the second game of the series on Monday by collecting a five-wicket haul in a Player of the Match performance.

Only Nick Kelly (83) provided much resistance to Rana as New Zealand were dismissed for just 198 in Dhaka and the hosts made light work of the victory target courtesy of half-centuries to Tanzid Hasan (76) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (50).

Kelly paid tribute to Rana after the match, with the New Zealand opener suggesting the pacer had proven the difference between the two sides.

"He's a really exciting young talent. He bowls with good pace, and the wicket suited him. There was a bit more grass, and he got some swing at mid-to-high 140s (km/h)," Kelly said of Rana.

"He attacked the stumps more, got swing, and used the extra bounce well. An example is Will Young's wicket - good pace and bounce. Maintaining 145-plus speeds in that heat was very impressive."

Bangladesh squad: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzim Hasan Sakib

Series schedule:

First ODI: April 17, Dhaka (New Zealand won by 26 runs)
Second ODI: April 20, Dhaka (Bangladesh won by six wickets)
Third ODI: April 23, Chattogram