ZCZC
BSP-18
CRICKET-TEST-SQUAD-PAK
Tamim, Rubel return for 1st Test against Pakistan
DHAKA, Feb 1, 2020 (BSS)- The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday
announced a 14-member team for the first Test against Pakistan, slated to
begin from February 7 at Rawalpindi.
The first Test would mark the return of the opener Tamim Iqbal who missed
last three matches of Bangladesh-one-off Test against Afghanistan and two-
match Test series against India.
Tamim Iqbal was the highest run-getter for Bangladesh in three-match T20
series against Pakistan in the side’s first phase of the tour there.
The southpaw struck a brilliant double century and remained unbeaten on
222 on a day when the selectors announced the team. Along with Tamim, fast
bowler Rubel Hossain, all-rounder Soumya Sarkar and top-order batsman Nazmul
Hossain Shanto, also returned to the fold.
Rubel and Shanto played their last Test match in 2018 while Soumya was the
part of Bangladesh’s Test plan before missing the two-match Test series
against India.
Mushfiqur Rahim had already skipped the Pakistan tour, citing family
reasons while Shadman Islam and Imrul Kayes, the two batsmen who opened the
innings against India, missed it due to their respective injuries, paving the
way for youngster Saif Hassan to make his long overdue debut.
Saif had the golden chance to debut against India after those two openers
failed to deal with rampant Indian fast bowlers but later the team management
skipped the idea to make him debut.
Saif made 58, facing 214 ball in first round of BCL for Central Zone and
stayed in the crease for 333 minutes to deal with the East Zone bowlers.
The Minhajul Abedin Nannu-led selection panel, however, didn’t consider
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who is also injured, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and
Mustafizur Rahman, who also were the part of Bangladesh last Test series in
India.
Mustafizur’s Test future was in doubt after he failed to get a place in
first XI in any of two Tests in India despite being the part of the squad.
His omission from the first Test against Pakistan further cast a doubt on his
longer version format future.
Mominul Haque will lead the side that also kept missing the service of
Shakib Al Hasan who has been serving his ICC imposed ban.
“Saif Hasan has been in tremendous form. Hopefully he will continue it,”
chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu said.
“For injury concern, we had to make some changes to our squad. But the
good thing is Tamim Iqbal is back in the team. His presence would give the
team an assurance.”
The Test is the part of Bangladesh’s World Test Championship game. After
playing the match, they would return to country before again visiting
Pakistan for the third and last phase of tour that is comprised with one-off
ODI and second Test in April.
Squad: Mominul Haque (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hasan, Najmul Hossain
Shanto, Mahmud Ullah, Md Mithun, Litton Kumer Das, Taijul Islam, Nayeem
Hasan, Ebadat Hossain, Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel
Hossain and Soumya Sarker.
BSS/SMP/SSS/1946 hrs