BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) has announced the squad for the two Test matches in the Pakistan tour. The 16-member squad includes Shakib Al Hasan.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who missed the last Test series against Sri Lanka due to injury, has returned to the Test team through the Pakistan series.
Taskin Ahmed was also rested during the Sri Lanka series. He is included in the squad for the second Test of the Pakistan series. Batsman Shahadat Hossain has been dropped from the squad that played against Sri Lanka.
Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain hopes that the team, composed of experienced players like Shakib, Mushfiqur, and Mominul Haque, will perform well on Pakistan’s soil. In the press release, he said, “We wanted to build the team with the best players for this format. This team is well-balanced. Mushfiqur, Mominul, and Shakib together have the experience of 216 Test matches. Taijul and Miraz are leading our spin department, with over 350 Test wickets between them.”
Gazi Ashraf Hossain also hopes that the two top-order batsmen, Najmul Hossain and Liton Das, will return to form. He said, “We hope Shanto, Liton, and other batsmen will perform well, and the team will play competitive cricket against Pakistan. We are expecting a team effort.”
The big surprise in the bowling department is Taskin’s return to the squad. Taskin, who last played a Test against Afghanistan last year, mentioned during last year’s BPL that he wanted to take a break from Test cricket for a while, considering the T20 World Cup and his shoulder injury. This was why he was not included in the Sri Lanka series squad at home last March.
Taskin has been brought back for the Pakistan series after considering his bowling workload. Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain mentioned that Taskin would test his fitness by playing in the second four-day match for Bangladesh ‘A’ team in Pakistan. If everything goes well, he will be considered for the second Test against Pakistan. Gazi Ashraf said, “We have taken five pacers. Taskin is included only for the second Test. He last played a Test in June last year. We have decided that Taskin will play the second four-day match against Pakistan ‘A’ team.”
Bangladesh Test Squad:
Najmul Hossain (Captain), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan, Sadman Islam, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Naeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shariful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed.
Returned to the squad: Mushfiqur Rahim and Taskin Ahmed.
Dropped: Shahadat Hossain.
