Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah has been called up in the Test squad for the tour of Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh Cricket Board national selection panel announced the decision Saturday.
Bangladesh T20I captain Mahmudullah with the call made a comeback in the red-ball team after 16 months having played his previous match in February 2020 against Pakistan.
BCB cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan informed that the decision to include Mahmudullah has been made for back-up to the injured wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim.
Right-handed middle-order batsman Mushfiq picked up a hairline fracture on his left hand during the Super League game for Abahani Limited in the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League T20.
The Bangladesh national dressing room is also dealing with injuries to ODI captain Tamim Iqbal and right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed.
“We do not want to take any chances [with injuries]. We are 80% confident that they will play but still we are ensuring to have enough players in the squad,” said Akram to the media at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
“We had an emergency meeting [Friday] involving board president [Nazmul Hasan] and the selectors. This tour to Zimbabwe is long and the situation [due to Covid-19 pandemic] is difficult. We took Mahmudullah as back-up to Mushfiq. The team management will have an option if they want to play an extra batsman,” the former Bangladesh captain added.
Bangladesh for the lone Test in the tour of Zimbabwe is set to leave early Monday morning.
The tourists will lock horns with the hosts in the solitary Test on July 7 at Harare Sports Club.
Bangladesh will also play a three-match ODI series that forms part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, and three T20Is in Zimbabwe.
