Bangladesh Test team in Australia (Source: AFP Photos)
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday (November 9) announced a 16-member squad for their upcoming two-match Test series in South Africa. There, Shadman Islam, who was thought to be ruled out after an unfortunate ankle injury, was confirmed to be out of action.
To replace him, the BCB recalled Mohammad Naim, while Mahfijul Islam earned his maiden international call-up. Both Mahfijul and Naim have been in impeccable form with the bat in the ongoing National Cricket League, Bangladesh’s primary red-ball domestic competition.
NCL Form Marks A Breakthrough For Mahfijul Islam
Representing Mymensingh Division, Mahfijul has already scored 672 runs at an average of 74.67 in five NCL matches, including three centuries and an unbeaten double hundred. As he is at the top of the run-scorers chart, BCB selectors rewarded him with a first-ever national call-up.
"We brought in [Mahfijul] Robin because we felt it was crucial to have a right-handed opener," Bashar told the reporters after announcing the squad.
"It is something we had been looking for, for a while. We didn't really have anyone else ready, and we wanted to give Robin a bit more time to prepare. I believe he has proven himself; he looked very promising in first-class cricket and in the emerging team matches." he added.
Naim, on the other hand, played only one Test for Bangladesh. It came way back in January 2022, against New Zealand in Christchurch.
Soumya Sarkar, Nayeem Hasan Dropped, No Nahid Rana Again
Bangladesh will be without Nahid Rana once again. Rana is in Perth, recovering from a side strain, and thus he was out of the selection process.
Meanwhile, Soumya Sarkar and Nayeem Hasan have been dropped from the Bangladesh squad for the South Africa Tests. Keeping in South Africa’s pace-friendly conditions in mind, they added Khaled Ahmed to the squad.
Bangladesh Squad For South Africa Tests
Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mohammad Naim Sheikh, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice Captain), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Mahfijul Islam
The two-match Test series between Bangladesh and South Africa will get underway on November 15. Johannesburg and Centurion will be the hosts of BAN vs SA Tests.
