Pace bowler Mashrafe Mortaza will return as Bangladesh captain for a tri-series in January subject to a fitness test, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said on Tuesday. Mortaza was first nominated as Bangladesh captain in July for a tour of West Indies but his captaincy lasted only two-and-a-half-days after he fell awkwardly while bowling on the third day of the first test at St Vincent.
Mortaza missed the remainder of the series and has been sidelined since. All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan led Bangladesh for the rest of the series as well as for the two series against Zimbabwe away and at home in his absence. Mortaza underwent surgery on both knees in Australia in September and returned to training earlier this month. "Our physio has declared him fit for play in the January tri-series.
However, we want to see how he does in match conditions and thus he has been selected for a warm-up match on December 26," BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus told a news conference. Bangladesh will host India and Sri Lanka for a tri-series scheduled from January 4 to 13. The hosts will play two test matches against India after the series. Yunus said Shakib would return to his original job as vice-captain of the side if Mortaza passes the fitness test.