Taskin Ahmed picked for first Test against West Indies
The fast bowler had been rested for the one-off Test against Afghanistan
Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed has returned to Bangladesh's squad for the first Test against West Indies, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) naming a 15-member squad on Friday (October 23). Taskin, who was rested for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, replaces fellow pacer Khaled Ahmed. Opener Soumya Sarkar, who was part of the squad for the Afghanistan Test, has also been left out.
Nahid Rana, who is currently in Australia for an assessment of his longstanding injury, has been ruled out of the opening Test. He is also unlikely to return for the second Test.
Bangladesh, however, will have Litton Das available after the wicketkeeper-batter missed the tri-nation series in the United Arab Emirates with a hip bone injury.
The selectors have included Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam alongside Taskin in the pace attack. Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nayeem Hasan are the three spinners in the squad.
Nayeem, who was initially named as a reserve for the Afghanistan Test but was later included in the playing XI, retains his place. Jaker Ali, who is leading the BCB XI against the touring West Indies in a two-day warm-up match, has been named as the back-up wicketkeeper.
The opening Test of the two-match series, part of the ICC World Test Championship, will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur from October 28. The second Test is scheduled to begin on November 5 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
