The Bangladesh Test squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against visiting Zimbabwe was announced by the BCB Thursday.
Four new players have got their maiden call up in the Test arena - pacer Syed Khaled Ahmed, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Mithun, all-rounder Ariful Haque and left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam Apu.
Opener Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib al Hasan were ruled out from the series a month ago so a few changes in the Test squad were eminent.
Mahmudullah has been selected as captain in the absence of Shakib.
“We have picked four new players for the Test series against Zimbabwe. We have prepared our squad considering our home conditions. Every match is important for us. We didn’t perform well in the last Test series against the West Indies. But we are hopeful that we can bounce back and perform well in the Zimbabwe series at home,” chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu informed the media at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium in Chittagong.
As many as four new faces in the form of Ariful Haque, Khaled Ahmed, Nazmul Islam and Mohammad Mithun were included in the @BCBtigers squad for the two-match Test series against @ZimCricketv.https://t.co/XR1BN9pSvK#BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) October 25, 2018
Khaled has been included for his impressive form in the ongoing National Cricket League. He bagged five wickets in each innings in the recently concluded fourth-round match.
“Khaled is a player from our High Performance squad and we have nurtured him there. He has some extra pace among all the bowlers we have in the HP squad. We have high hopes about him and we are confident with his fast bowling. Hopefully he will give us good service in international cricket,” Minhajul added.
Ariful was a slightly surprise call-up in the Test scene. With that said, he is also in good form in the domestic four-dayers as he scored a double century after returning from the Asia Cup in the UAE this month.
“We have picked Ariful after discussing with the team management. In home conditions we often need batsmen in the late middle-order so that we can score quick runs. These type of batting is effective on slow wickets. That’s why we have picked him. Besides that, he can also bowl with the new ball. So we have picked him as an all-rounder,” Minhajul concluded.
Mithun has been picked to bolster the middle-order batting as Shakib is not playing. And Nazmul has been picked for his left-arm spin. Pacer Shafiul Islam meanwhile, has returned to the Test team.
Shahadat gets surprise call in BCB XI https://t.co/c6hfdmz7Jk#Bangladesh pacer #Shahadat Hossain got a surprise call-up for the #BCB XI who will play the only three-day practice match against visiting #Zimbabwe Monday.
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) October 25, 2018
The first Test against Zimbabwe starts on November 3 at Sylhet Cricket Stadium while the second and final Test begins on November 11 at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
Squad
Mahmudullah (C), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Mominul Haque, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Ariful Haque, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi, Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Mithun, Khaled Ahmed and Nazmul Islam Apu
