Bangladesh Keep Litton for First Test Against West Indies; Taskin Returns, Soumya and Khaled Dropped
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the squad for the first Test against the West Indies. The squad has been built keeping Litton Das, who had been ruled out of the most recent tri-nation series through injury.
The West Indies have toured Bangladesh for a two-match red-ball series under the ICC Test Championship. The Caribbean side is currently playing a preparation match against a BCB XI.
The BCB announced the squad on Friday for the first Test starting on October 28. The same announcement was published simultaneously across multiple news outlets, putting this squad at the centre of the day's sporting discussion.
Litton's presence in the squad for the Dhaka Test is the biggest news. He had been ruled out of the most recent tri-nation series through injury. In that series, Tawhid Hridoy led Bangladesh in place of the regular captain.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik is also in the squad for the first Test against the Caribbean side. Bangladesh therefore have options behind the wicket and in the middle order.
Soumya Sarkar and Syed Khaled Ahmed have been dropped from the squad that last played against Afghanistan. Those two omissions are the other major changes in the announced squad.
Taskin Ahmed has returned to Tests anew. Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam are also there. The selectors have therefore relied on experienced and familiar faces in the pace attack.
Among the spinners, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are in the squad. Considering the Mirpur wicket, the presence of these three spinners will give the team balance.
The announced 15-member squad is: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Md Sadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Kumar Das, Tawhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vice-captain), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury and Shoriful Islam.
The first Test between Bangladesh and the West Indies will be held from October 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. Play will start at 9:30am.
Both teams will then travel to Sylhet for the second Test. The second and final Test of the series will be held there from November 5 to 9.
The Tigers have returned carrying memories of bad defeats to Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. Bangladesh will want to put that experience behind them with the Tests against the Caribbean side. At home, this series is therefore not only a fight for points, but also a fight to regain confidence.
Litton's fitness, Taskin's return and Shanto's leadership — these three issues are now the most discussed when it comes to picking the XI for the first Test. The answers will come when play begins in Mirpur on October 28.
