The Bangladesh Cricket Board included uncapped pace bowler Musfik Hasan for the opening Test of the two-match series against Australia, scheduled at Darwin from August 13.
The right-arm pace bowler was included in the squad after Nahid Rana was ruled out from the series. Apart from Nahid, Shoriful Islam is also not available for their opening Test of the series.Both the paces are recovering from their respective injuries.
Left-handed batter Soumya Sarkar, who is known to be comfortable against pace and bounce, returned to the Test squad after a gap of five and a half years with this last appearance in Test cricket coming against West Indies in Mirpur back in February 2021.
Wicket-keeper Zaker Ali, who last played a Test match in Sri Lanka in 2025, was included in the Test squad for the historic series with Litton Kumar Das set to miss the first game due to an injury. Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan, who did not feature in the one-off Test series against Zimbabwe, returned after a break.
Ebadat Hossain might cut short his paternity given Bangladesh are missing two frontline pacers. The selectors included him on expected lines for the opening Test whereas Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Naeem Hasan, Robiul Haque, Mahidul Islam, who were part of Zimbabwe Test squad, failed to retain their spots.
Bangladesh will depart on July 31 and will play a three-day game against Cricket Australia XI at Darwin from August 6-8. The two-match series, part of the ICC World Test Championship, begins in Darwin from August 13-17 before moving to Mackay for the second and final Test from August 22-26.
Squad – Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque Showrab, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice Captain), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Musfik Hasan
