The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 16-member squad for the two-match Test series against India on Thursday with one surprise. Pacer Shoriful Islam has been left out, while wicketkeeper-batsman Zakir Ali has been called up to the Test squad for the first time in the India series team.
Shariful, who took three wickets in two innings in the first Test on the Pakistan tour, could not play in the second Test due to a groin injury. After returning to the country, he practiced bowling for a few days in Mirpur. However, the selectors do not want to take any risk with the pacer who has been trusted in Bangladesh in the last few months in three editions. If all goes well, the 23-year-old left-arm pacer will be seen in the T20 series in India.
Jaker, who is awaiting his Test debut, has played 17 matches for Bangladesh in T20i format. He played 49 first class matches to score 2862 runs with four centuries at an average of 41.47. Jaker played an innings of 172 runs in the second un-official Test against Pakistan 'A' team last month.
As a batsman was taken instead of Shariful, there are now four pacers in the Test team. Taskin Ahmed is accompanied by Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed. Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are staying with Shakib Al Hasan in the spin department.
Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who was unable to play the match in the tour of Pakistan due to injury, is in the team for the tour of India.
Bangladesh team will leave the home for India on September 15 to play two-match Test series and three T20i matches there. The first Test will begin on September 19 while the second match start on September 27.
SQUAD: Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shadman Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali Anik, Taskin Ahmed, Litton Das, Hasan Mahmud, Taijul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Khaled Ahmed.
