DHAKA: Bangladesh on Saturday included spinner Taijul Islam in their 15-man squad for the first Twenty20 International of the three-match series against New Zealand.

All-rounder Shuvagata Hom joined Tajiul in Bangladesh’s two changes from the squad which lost the recent three-match One-day International series 3-0.

Leg-spinner Tanveer Haider and all-rounder Mehedi Hasan made way for Taijul and Shuvagata as Bangladesh seek their first victory over the hosts at Napier on Jan 3.

Left-arm spinner Taijul is a regular member of Bangladesh’s Test squad and played four ODIs, but he has yet to make his debut in the game’s shortest format.

“Taijul is a proven performer and has done well in recent Bangladesh Premier League,” selector Habibul Bashar said, referring to the local T20 tournament.

“So, we thought he could be effective alongside Shakib Al Hasan in Twenty20 format,” said Habibul, who defended the inclusion of Shuvagata, adding he is a ‘utility all-rounder’.

Paceman Subashis Roy is the only other player in the squad who has not played any Twenty20 International.

Meanwhile, New Zealand opener Martin Guptill will miss the Twenty20 series against Bangladesh with a hamstring injury and will be replaced by in-form batsman Neil Broom, the country’s cricket board said on Saturday.

Guptill will be sidelined for up to four weeks after he sustained the injury while running between the wickets in the third One-day International at Saxton Oval in Nelson on Saturday.

Broom was in fine form during the ODI series against Bangladesh, scoring 109 (not out) and 97 runs in his last two innings.

“We needed to replace an attacking opening batsmen and with Neil’s experience opening in the T20 format and his current form — he was a ready-made replacement,” coach Mike Hesson said in a statement. “Martin also leads our fielding in white ball cricket and so we’re expecting Neil to be a big contributor in that area as well.”

The second and third Twenty20 Internationals of the series will be held respectively on Jan 6 and 8 at Mount Maunganui.

Bangladesh will also play two Tests against the Blackcaps during the visit.

Squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shuvagata Hom, Subashis Roy, Taijul Islam and Nurul Hasan.

Published in Dawn January 1st, 2017