Mahmudullah XI beat Tamim XI by five wickets at BKSP riding on Hasan’s superb performance. 

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) already announced a 24-member preliminary squad for the three-match ODI series against the West Indies which will start on January 20. 

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The selectors overlooked the former Bangladesh captain and right-arm pacer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza for the series. The move indicated that they were looking for new talents in the pace-bowling department.

Taking four wickets in the practice game, Hasan proved his mettle to replace Mashrafe in the ODI squad. 

Earlier, Mahmudullah won the toss and sent Tamim XI to bat first who ended up adding 161 runs in 37.2 overs losing all the wickets. Afif Hossain added 35 runs off 32 balls with three sixes. 

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Tamim Iqbal, the ODI captain of Bangladesh, posted 28 off 43 balls, Najmul Hossain Shanto, 27 off 35 and Soumya Sarkar, 24 off 46.

For Mahmudullah XI, Hasan bagged four wickets while Shoriful Islam and Al Amin Hossain took two wickets each.

In reply, Mahmudullah hit an unbeaten 50 to guide his team to a five-wicket victory. Mohammad Naim, 43 off 52, Shakib Al Hasan, 28 off 48, also did well with the bat.

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Mahmudullah XI chased down the target in 36.5 overs losing five wickets.

For Tamim XI, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed and Mahadi Hasan took one wicket each. 

Mahmudullah said it was a good day for the bowlers. “I think the bowlers did an excellent job. There was a good movement in the wicket at the start of the match. But the wicket favoured the batsmen in the second innings. Overall, it was a good practice game for all of us.”

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The ODI series will begin on January 20 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The second game of the series will also take place at the same venue on January 22, and the third one will be played in Chattogram on January 25.