Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday announced a 16- member Bangladesh Test squad for the tour of Pakistan including Shakib Al Hasan to play a two- match Test Series, part of ICC World Test Championship against hosts Pakistan.
Bangladesh Cricket team will fly for Pakistan on Monday (12 August), five days ahead of the original schedule (17 August) to adjust with local conditions and make training session there ahead of the test series.
The first Test of the two-match series will begin on 21 August in Rawalpindi and the second and last match will be held in Karachi from 30 August.
Bangladesh 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:
Bangladesh Test team: 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, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed
About the team selection, chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu said, "The emphasis was on picking our best players for this version. This is a well balanced squad. The likes of Mushfiqur (Rahim), Mominul (Haque) and Shakib (Al Hasan) have played 216 matches combined and there is no substitute for that kind of experience. Taijul (Islam) and Miraz (Mehidy Hasan) have been leading the spin department for a long time and have over 350 wickets between them. We also expect Shanto (Najmul Hossain), Litton (Kumer Das) and the other batsmen to step up because to be competitive against Pakistan as we will need a team effort.”
“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. Also, a couple of the pacers may join the A Team for the one-day matches and therefore we needed backups. Our attack has variety with bowlers who can bowl fast and also swing the ball and I am really looking forward to seeing them perform against world class batsmen.” he added.
“Pakistan are very tough opponents, especially in their home front and it will be a challenging tour for us. It is good that we will get additional time to prepare in Lahore. Also, some players who are in Pakistan already with the Bangladesh A side, will join the national team for the Test series. Their experience of the conditions should come in handy,” he further said.
