Hridoy and Jaker Return to Bangladesh’s Test Squad for Afghanistan Series

Bangladesh have recalled Towhid Hridoy and Zaker Ali Anik to the squad for the one-match Test series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates, while pacer Taskin Ahmed has been rested.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 15-member squad led by Nazmul Hossain Shanto on Saturday.

Hridoy returned to the Test team after scoring a record 350-plus runs for Bangladesh ‘A’ in South Africa. The right-handed batsman made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in June but was left out of the squad for the subsequent tour of Australia.

Zaker, who also toured Australia after making his Test debut against Zimbabwe, has returned to the team in place of Amit Hasan. Chief selector Habibul Bashar Suman said Zaker got his chance again due to his excellent performance for the ‘A’ team.

Meanwhile, Nahid Rana was not included in the squad as he has not fully recovered from his injury. Bashar has indicated that the aim is to prepare the fast bowler for the home Test series against the West Indies.

Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadat Hossain and Shariful Islam will be in the pace attack for the Afghanistan Test. Taskin has been left out of this list due to rest.

Mehedi Hasan Miraj and Taijul Islam will remain the mainstays in the spin department as usual.
Apart from this, off-spinner Nayeem Hasan and two young pacers Mushfiqur Hasan and Iqbal Hossain Emon will travel with the team as travelling reserves.
Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan in the only Test match on October 9 in the United Arab Emirates.

Nazmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Tanjid Hasan, Sadman Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque Sourav, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Kumar Das, Towhid Hridoy, Zaker Ali Anik, Mehedi Hasan Miraj, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ibadat Hossain Chowdhury, Shariful Islam.
Traveling Reserves: Naeem Hasan, Mushfiqur Hasan and Iqbal Hossain Emon.