The Bangladesh selectors have named both Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman in Bangladesh's 23-member preliminary squad for the ODI series against Sri Lanka later this month. The group is scheduled to start training from May 2, although it is not clear whether either Shakib or Mustafizur, both currently playing in IPL 2021, will join the camp on time.

Shakib missed Bangladesh's Test series against Sri Lanka after being granted leave by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, to play in the IPL. Rahman was also given an NOC to take part in the IPL, after he wasn't included in the Test squad. Shakib is part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad, while Rahman is with the Rajasthan Royals, who have already lost four players due to a variety of reasons this year in Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Andrew Tye and Liam Livingstone. That has left them with just four overseas options, including Rahman. The other three are Jos Buttler, Chris Morris and David Miller.

Both Shakib and Rahman are, however, expected to join the ODI team for the three-match series, which is likely to start on May 23. The IPL's league stage also concludes on May 23, with the final on May 30.

The preliminary squad, which also includes Imrul Kayes who last played an ODI in 2018, will train till May 9, after which they will get a seven-day break for the Eid festival. Most of the preliminary squad is made up of cricketers who played in Bangladesh's recent white-ball tour of New Zealand.

The three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka is part of the ICC's Super League.

Bangladesh's preliminary squad: Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Naim, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Shohidul Islam.