Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed has retained his place in the 15-member squad for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup, a Bangladesh Cricket Board official said on Saturday.

The right-arm pace bowler, who missed the ongoing three-match T20I series, is currently undergoing rehabilitation in USA under the BCB’s medical team.

Taskin’s selection in the 15-member World Cup squad turned out to be a big talking point considering there were doubts regarding his participation after he suffered a displaced fracture in the rib region on the right side during the last home series against Zimbabwe.

Pacer Hasan Mahmud, who was included in the squad for the ongoing three-match T20I series, was also included as a reserve player in the World Cup squad keeping the health condition of Taskin in mind.

“It was a case of formality. Every team was given this opportunity (of changing players until May 25)…We have spoken with the coach and the captain and we kept Taskin in our 15-member squad for the World Cup,” Convenor of the national selection panel Gazi Ashraf Hossain told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

“Taskin had another MRI (recently) and he is recovering faster than expected. On 30 or 31 May, he will be assessed another time and from 1 June, he will start his bowling and we are expecting him to bowl at full pace from 5 June,” he added.