All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and batsman Tamim Iqbal were on Thursday returned to Bangladesh’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against South Africa.
Tamim, 32, missed the Test leg of the New Zealand tour due to multiple thumb injuries while Shakib left the tour for personal reasons.
Shakib’s return to the Test team comes after BCB president Nazmul Hasan said the 34-year-old would tour South Africa even though he had initially planned to quit Test cricket for six months. The all-rounder wanted to be a part of the Indian Premier League, but he went unsold in the mega auction, paving the way for his inclusion.
“Now that he’s not going to the IPL, I see no reason why he shouldn’t play the Test series in South Africa,” Hasan told ESPNcricinfo.
“So forget about it. It’s not on my mind anymore. IPL was stopping him from playing (two Test series), but now he will play (both series).
However, Fazal Mahmood and Mohammad Naeem have been dropped from the Test squad. Fazal had earlier made his way into the team on the back of stellar performances in domestic first-class cricket, while Naeem was a left-field pick as he is a T20 specialist. Naeem made his debut in the second Test in Christchurch but did not make much of an impact.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh decided to stick with the ODI team that recently defeated Afghanistan 2-0 at home. Fast bowler Khalid Ahmed, who is uncapped in ODI cricket, is the only addition to the team. The 29-year-old has played three Tests so far in which he has taken just one wicket.
Bangladesh will play three ODIs on March 18, 20 and 23, part of the World Cup Super League, while the two Tests, part of the World Test Championship, begin on March 31 and April 8.
Test squad: Mominul Haque (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das (wk), Yasir Ali, Taijul Islam, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Zayed, Abadot Hussain, Shorful Islam, Shohidul Islam, Khalid Ahmed, Shadman Islam, Nurul Hasan
ODI squad: Tamim Iqbal (Captain), Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shorful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Yasir Ali. Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Khalid Ahmed
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