Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS the eagerly anticipated Zimbabwe tour of Bangladesh draws closer and closer with each day, the hosts, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced an interesting squad for the two Test matches with exciting new additions and misses.
Fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakin earned a maiden Test call-up while Taskin Ahmed’s injury forced him out of the Bangladesh squad for the first Test against the Chevrons in Sylhet from 20 April.
Taskin is rehabilitating for a left achilles tendon issue, and Tanzim getting in as a like-for-like replacement.
The BCB also gave a break to Liton Das to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He is part of Karachi Kings in the league which began on Friday.
Ahmed and Das were part of the two-Test series against West Indies, which was Bangladesh’s last Test assignment in late November 2024. Those returning to the side include regular captain Najmul Hossain Shanot and Mishfiqur Rahim who missed the Tests against West Indies due to injuries.
Offspinner Nayeem Hasan is also in the 15-member squad, apart from fast bowlers Khaled Ahmed and Tanzim.
There was, however, no place for Shahadat Hossain and Shoriful Islam, who featured in the West Indies Tests, as well as Hasan Murad.
“We have formed the Test team with our best possible players. We are returning to Tests after four months. We have Tests against Sri Lanka in June and we haven’t really done that well in home Tests in the last 12 months. This is why we are refraining from experimenting in this Test series,” chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain.
Bangladesh are also monitoring Ebadot Hossain’s progress, who has returned to competitive cricket this season after a long injury layoff.
“Tanzim has shown promise in the white-ball sides. He has shown hunger and the ability to take wickets. He has earned his place in the side. We are still observing Ebadot Hossain. We have a lot of cricket coming up, so those who are missing out from the first Test, have no reason to worry,” said Ashraf Hossain.
The Bangladesh side will undertake a ten-day training camp in Sylhet ahead of the first Test. Zimbabwe are slated to arrive in the country on Tuesday.
The Chevrons and the Tigers have faced off 18 times in Test Cricket with their first meeting dating back to 2001 where Zimbabwe registered a 2-0 series sweep at home.
Of the 18 meetings, Zimbabwe have won seven while Bangladesh have won eight with three games ending as draws.
The forthcoming series marks Zimbabwe’s first Test in Bangladesh since February 2020, when the hosts secured victory in a one-off match in Dhaka by an innings and 106 runs. However, the last meeting between the two was in 2021 in Harare.
Zimbabwe will take on Bangladesh in the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet from 20 to 24 April, with the second match scheduled for 28 April to 2 May at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
Bangladesh’s squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe:
Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahidul Islam, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan.
