Bangladesh Name Squad for First Australia Test; Soumya, Jaker Return, Joy Left Out

Sports Desk

The BCB has announced a 15-member Bangladesh squad ahead of the first Test of the two-match series in Australia. Opening batsman Soumya Sarkar and wicketkeeper-batsman Zaker Ali Anik have returned to the Test squad. In addition, young fast bowler Mushfiqur Hasan has been given a chance in the pace attack. The first Test of the series will begin on August 13 at the Marara Cricket Ground in Darwin.

Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy has been dropped from the team due to his continuous off-form.

Left-handed batsman Soumya Sarkar has returned to Test cricket after more than four years. He played his last Test against the West Indies in Mirpur in February 2021. On the other hand, Zaker Ali has regained his place in the Test team after a long absence. He last played in white against Sri Lanka in Galle in June last year. He has been brought back mainly to increase the strength of the team in the lower-middle order. Right-handed batsman Amit Hasan, who recently made his debut in the Zimbabwe tour, has also retained his place.

Tall right-arm pacer Mushfiqur Hasan has been in the national team pipeline for a long time. He was called up to the Test squad for the first time in 2023 against Afghanistan, but he is yet to make his international debut.
Bangladesh’s pace attack has suffered a major setback with injuries to young pace sensation Nahid Rana and experienced left-arm pacer Shariful Islam. However, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadat Hossain and new face Mushfiqur will handle the pace along with Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud.

The Bangladesh team will leave for Australia for the Test series on July 31. Before the start of the main series, Shanto-Miraj will face Cricket Australia XI in a three-day warm-up match at the DXC Arena in Darwin from August 6 to 8.

The second and final Test will begin on August 21 at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.

Bangladesh squad:
Nazmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mehedi Hasan Miraj (vice-captain), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanjid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amit Hasan, Zaker Ali Anik, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadat Hossain and Mushfiq Hasan.