Opener Mohammad Naim Sheikh returned to Bangladesh's Test squad after a four-year absence while young opener Mahfijul Islam Robin earned his maiden national team call-up as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today announced a 16-member squad for the two-match Test series against South Africa.
Mahfijul, who has been in prolific form in the ongoing National Cricket League (NCL), received his first call-up to the national team across all formats.
Naim, meanwhile, is set to make his Test comeback after playing his only Test against New Zealand in 2022.
Both openers earned selection on the back of impressive performances in the ongoing NCL. Mahfizul has scored 672 runs in 10 innings at an average of 74.67, including three centuries, to emerge as the competition's leading run-scorer.
Naim is second on the list with 612 runs from seven innings, also featuring three centuries.
The selectors were prompted to bring in additional opening options following an injury to Sadman Islam, who sprained his ankle while fielding during the ongoing second Test against West Indies.
Bangladesh had no specialist backup opener in the squad for the ongoing series, with Tanzid Hasan and Sadman featuring in both Tests.
Amite Hasan, who was part of the squad for the second Test against West Indies, missed out on selection.
Chief selector Habibul Bashar said the presence of Liton Das and Jaker Ali Anik in the squad meant there was no need for another wicketkeeper-batter, while the selectors preferred to strengthen the top-order options.
"Since we have two wicket-keeper batters in the squad in Liton Das and Jaker Ali Anik, there is no need for an additional one," Basahr said of Amite.
"But that doesn't mean It's the end of the world for Amite. He has been on the selection radar always. Whenever his service is needed, we'll call him up. At this moment, we need to bolster out top order, so we did it."
Bangladesh have included five pace bowlers for the South Africa tour, with Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed making the cut.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam are the only specialist spinners in the squad, while off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, who featured in both Tests against West Indies, has been left out.
The first Test will begin in Johannesburg on November 15, with the second Test scheduled to start in Centurion on November 23.
Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Naim Sheikh, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Kumer Das, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice Captain), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Mahfijul Islam Robin.
