Taskin Ahmed has returned to the Bangladesh Test squad for the Pakistan series
Taskin Ahmed Returns to Test Cricket: Included in Bangladesh’s 15-Player Squad for Pakistan Series
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced on Sunday that Taskin Ahmed has been included in the 15-player squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, set to begin in Rawalpindi on August 21.
Taskin, whose last Test appearance was in June 2023, had taken a break from red-ball cricket to focus on his recovery following a shoulder injury.
Recently, he expressed a renewed desire to return to red-ball cricket, and the BCB believes he is ready to manage the demands of longer-format matches.
Commenting on Taskin’s selection, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, chairman of the national selection panel, stated, “We have selected five pacers, with the understanding that Taskin Ahmed will only be available for the second Test.
He hasn’t played a Test since June last year, so we’ve included him in the ‘A’ team for the second four-day match against Pakistan A to help him regain his rhythm for longer-format games.
“In addition, a few pacers may join the A Team for the one-day matches, so we needed adequate backups.
Our bowling attack offers variety, with pacers capable of both speed and swing, and I’m eager to see how they perform against world-class batters,” Hossain added.
The Bangladesh A team is currently in Pakistan, participating in a series that includes two four-day games and three one-day matches.
Earlier reports from Cricpulse suggested that Shahadat Hossain was unlikely to be selected for the Test squad, and he, along with pacer Mushfiq Hasan, was eventually excluded.
The selection panel also included Shakib Al Hasan and Shoriful Islam, despite their recent absences from Test cricket.
“Our focus was on assembling the best possible squad for this format.
This is a well-balanced team.
Players like Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, and Shakib Al Hasan bring a combined experience of 216 matches, which is invaluable,” Ashraf noted.
“Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have been leading our spin department for years, with over 350 wickets between them.
We also expect batters like Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Kumar Das to step up, as we’ll need a collective effort to be competitive against Pakistan.
“Pakistan is a formidable opponent, especially on their home soil, and this tour will be challenging for us.
It’s beneficial that we’ll have additional preparation time in Lahore.
“Moreover, some players currently with the Bangladesh A side in Pakistan will join the national team for the Test series.
Their experience of the conditions should prove valuable.”
The Bangladesh team is scheduled to depart for Pakistan on August 12 for the two ICC World Test Championship matches, which will be played in Rawalpindi and Karachi.
The first Test will begin on August 21, followed by the second on August 30.
Due to a political crisis in the country, the team is traveling earlier than planned and will gather in Lahore to train at the Gaddafi Stadium from August 14-16 before heading to Islamabad on August 17 for the first Test.
SQUAD:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain) |
| Mahmudul Hasan Joy |
| Zakir Hasan |
| Shadman Islam |
| Mominul Haque |
| Mushfiqur Rahim |
| Shakib Al Hasan |
| Litton Das |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz |
| Taijul Islam |
| Nayeem Hasan |
| Nahid Rana |
| Shoriful Islam |
| Hasan Mahmud |
| Taskin Ahmed |
| Syed Khaled Ahmed |
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