Bangladesh name 16-man squad for two-match Test series in Pakistan, Taskin Ahmed to play 2nd Test
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday, August 11, named a 16-member squad for the two-match Test series in Pakistan. Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead the side, while experienced pacer Taskin Ahmed will only feature in the second Test.
Bangladesh will play two Test matches in Pakistan from August 21 to September 3. The first Test will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, while the second Test will be held at the National Stadium in Karachi. The build-up to the Test series has been dominated by concerns over the ongoing civil unrest in Bangladesh.
Releasing an official statement while naming the Test squad, the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed that the team will leave for Pakistan on Monday.
"The squad will assemble in Lahore and will train at the Gaddafi Stadium from 14-16 August before traveling to Islamabad on 17 August for the first Test," the BCB statement added.
Bangladesh squad for Pakistan Tests: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud
Bangladesh's chief selector shares his thoughts on team selection for Pakistan Tests
Bangladesh's chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain has termed the squad picked for the Test tour of Pakistan as well-balanced.
"The likes of Mushfiqur, Mominul and Shakib have played 216 matches combined and there is no substitute for that kind of experience. Taijul and Miraz have been leading the spin department for a long time and have over 350 wickets between them," Hossain commented.
The selection chief also added that they have picked five pacers in the team keeping in mind the fact that senior fast bowler Taskin will only feature in the second Test match. He added that Taskin will turn out for the A team in the second four-day match against Pakistan A.
“We have selected five pacers mindful of the fact that Taskin Ahmed will only play the second Test. He hasn’t bowled in a Test since June last year and we have decided to include him in the A Team for the second four-dayer against Pakistan A to get him into the rhythm for longer version matches, " Hossain added.
Earlier, Pakistan named a 17-member squad for the Test series. Young pacer Naseem Shah, who last played a red-ball game for Pakistan in July 2023 in Sri Lanka, has been recalled.