Bangladesh’s premier bowlers Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed return from injury as the hosts fight to prevent a clean-sweep at the hands of Pakistan in the second Test in Dhaka. Bangladesh are trailing the two-match Test series 1-0 after losing by eight wickets in Chittagong, where they were badly missed by a strike bowler.
The hosts were also defeated by Pakistan 3-0 in their Twenty20 series.
But Bangladesh have won five of their last seven Tests at Dhaka’s Mirpur Stadium, including defeating England and Australia, which will give them confidence they can repeat the feat there when the Tests begin on Saturday.
Captain Mominul Haque expects the Mirpur pitch to match the one in Chittagong, where Bangladesh was competitive in the first four days.
He said, ‘I like such wickets. I think we had a very flat wicket, which was helpful for the batsmen, but the fast bowlers faced hurdles,” Mominul said after losing the first Test.
Bangladesh’s left-arm spinner Taijul Islam staged a lone fight to claim 7-116 in the first innings. But Pakistan, despite their efforts, eventually secured an easy victory thanks to a 151-run opening stand by Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafiq.
Taijul’s regular spin partner Shakib had missed out on a hamstring injury during Twenty20 last month. World Cup.
Shakib was first included in the Test squad with the hope that he would recover in time, but was dropped later.
Bangladesh also missed the services of pacer Taskin after he injured his finger during the final Twenty20 International against Pakistan on November 22.
Taskin was in excellent Test form since returning to the side after a four-year absence, taking 11 wickets in three matches.
A number of changes are expected in the hosts for the second Test, with opener Saif Hassan taking ill.
Bangladesh selectors have picked a 19-man squad keeping in mind the upcoming series in New Zealand, where they will travel two days after the Dhaka Test.
Pakistan batsman Abid Ali, who scored 133 and 91 in the first Test, says his previous victories have no meaning.
“It will be a new day and we need to bat with a positive mind,” he added.
Pakistan is second in the World Test Championship table.
Bangladesh Team: Mominul Haque (Captain), Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan, Mehdi Hassan, Taijul Islam, Taskeen Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Abu Zayed, Naeem Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan, Rezaur Rahman, Khalid Ahmed, Shohidul Islam, Mohammad Naeem.
Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafiq, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Bilal Asif, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali Sajid Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zahid Mehmood.
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