Following Bangladeshi pacer Taskin Ahmed‘s recent declaration of his eagerness to return to international red-ball cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board affirmed his capability to participate in longer-format games. Consequently, Taskin Ahmed has been incorporated into the 15-member squad set to travel to Pakistan for the two-match Test series.
Taskin Ahmed , who last featured in a Test match in June 2023 after requesting the BCB for an exemption to recover from a shoulder injury while continuing his white-ball commitments, is now poised to seize an opportunity for his Test comeback.
Taskin Ahmed in Bangladesh strong squad for Pakistan series
The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Sunday included Taskin Ahmed in the 15-player squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, scheduled to begin in Rawalpindi on August 21. Taskin Ahmed , who had last played a Test in June 2023, had taken a break from red-ball cricket to prioritise his recovery following his shoulder injury, and recently desired to play red-ball cricket. The BCB insisted he can manage to play longer-version cricket.
The Bangladesh A team is currently in Pakistan playing a series which includes two four-day games and three one-day matches. Cricbuzz had earlier reported that Shahadat Hossain was unlikely to make the cut to the Test squad and eventually was excluded from the squad along with pacer Mushfiq Hasan.
The selection panel picked Shakib al Hasan and Shoriful Islam even though both of them have been away from Test cricket for quite some time. 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 (Kumar Das) and the other batters to step up because to be competitive against Pakistan, we will need a team effort.
Taskin Ahmed who decided to quit red ball cricket returns for 2 match Test series vs Pakistan
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 Kumar 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.
The Bangladesh team will leave for Pakistan on August 12 for the two ICC World Test Championship matches, set to be played in Rawalpindi and Karachi. The first Test is set to begin on August 21 while the second match starts on August 30.
The squad, which is departing ahead of schedule due to a political crisis in the country, will convene in Lahore and conduct their training at the Gaddafi Stadium from August 14 to 16, after the Pakistan Cricket Board granted them allowance to prepone their travel in a gesture teemed with goodwill. They will then proceed to Islamabad on August 17 in preparation for the first Test, scheduled to commence on August 21.