Nurul dropped; who will Taskin Ahmed replace? Bangladesh's strongest XI for T20 World Cup

Bangladesh strongest XI for T20 World Cup [Source: AFP Photo]

On Sunday, the Bangladesh cricket board revealed its squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The team will be led by Litton Das, and Saif Hassan has been named the vice-captain as the Tigers aim to clinch their maiden World Cup title. In a surprising decision, the management has dropped Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali from their squad.

The team is a great mix of youth and experience, and with the squad revealed, here is Bangladesh’s strongest XI for the upcoming marquee event.

Bangladesh squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Litton Kumer Das (Captain), Mohammed Saif Hassan (Vice Captain), Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Qazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Md Shaifuddin, Shoriful Islam

Bangladesh's potential combination for T20 WC

Top order - Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Emon, Litton Das

Bangladesh has an aggressive top three, and the trio of Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Emon, and Litton Das will hold the key to their T20 World Cup ambitions. They had an excellent year in T20Is in 2025, and the X-factor will be Tanzid Hasan, who improved his T20 batting with aggressive strokeplays.

(Tanzid Hasan in 2025)

• In 27 T20I matches in 2025, the batter scored 775 runs, but most importantly, he struck at 135, which was more than his T20I strike rate in 2024 (114.24).
• Moreover, the team has a brilliant leader in Litton Das, and the batter had a strike rate of 132 in 2025, which was again more than his numbers in 2024 (100.65).

Middle order - Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain

• Vice-captain Saif Hassan is likely to bat at number 4, and he will have the responsibility to take the attack to the opposition. Generally an aggressive batter, he has done well for the Bangladesh side, and will be a key component for the Tigers.

Why Shamim Hossain over Nurul Hasan Sohan

Jaker Ali was Bangladesh’s designated finisher until the last series against Ireland, but with him getting dropped, the Tigers have a chinks in their finishing armour. The two leading candidates to play the role of finishers are Shmim Hossain and Nurul Hasan Sohan.

However, Shamim Hossain should be persisted by the team in that role, and his T20I stats reflect his brilliance.

(T20I stats of Shamim and Nurul)

• There is not too much to separate the two players, but Shamim has slightly better numbers and has done well in recent matches, and hence, he should be given a chance to play the finishers’ role for Bangladesh.
• In the first two group stage games, expect Shamim to start in the playing XI, and if the experiment fails, the team can go back to Nurul Hasan in the last two group stage games.
• With Shamim as finisher, Towhid Hridoy is likely to bat at number 5, and with a strike rate of 123, he can be a handy middle-order batter.

Bowlers: Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Bangladesh is likely to play their T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka after tension escalated with India, and if that happens, the Lankan conditions will suit their spinners, and hence, they could be tempted to go in with both Rishad Hossain and Mahedi Hasan.

Both spinners have done well in Asian conditions and the pitches in Sri Lanka will suit the way their bowl.

Taskin over Saifuddin - a tricky choice

Both the pacers have been brilliant in recent times for Bangladesh, but Taskin boasts an overall better record, and moreover, his experience also comes into play for the Tigers.

(Taskin, Saifuddin T20I stats)

• While both pacers are wicket-takers, Taskin has a slightly better average and a way better economy, and with his overall experience, the team could be tempted to go in with him.
• Also, the lineup is completed by Mustafizur Rahman, whose brilliant cutters will come in handy on the slow Indian/Sri Lankan wickets.

Bangladesh's strongest XI for T20 World Cup

Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Emon, Litton Das, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

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