16-player Bangladesh squad unveiled for Pakistan Test series

A 16-player squad has been announced by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for the two-match Test series against Pakistan which is set to start on August 21 in Rawalpindi.

The announcement was made by the board on Sunday. The series that will be played as part of the World Test Championship 2023-25.

"The emphasis was on picking our best players for this version. This is a well-balanced squad. The likes of Mushfiqur [Rahim], Mominul [Haque] and Shakib [Al Hasan] have played 216 matches combined and there is no substitute for that kind of experience," Gazi Ashraf Hossain, Chairman of National Selection Panel BCB, stated.

The BCB stated that Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead the Bangladeshi squad against Pakistan, also that the squad has five fast bowlers in it.

“We have selected five pacers mindful of the fact that Taskin Ahmed will only play the second Test," the chairman selection committee BCB stated.

Veteran pacer Taskin Ahmed will also be seen in action with the Bangladesh A-Team during the second four-day game.

"He hasn’t bowled in a Test since June last year and we have decided to include him in the A-Team for the second four-dayer against Pakistan A to get him into the rhythm for longer version matches,” Hossain stated regarding Taskin’s selection.

Bangladesh Test squad:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumar Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Syed Khaled Ahmed.

Pakistan Test Squad

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal (subject to fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Series schedule

1st Test: August 21-25, Pindi Cricket Stadium.

2nd Test: August 30 to September 4, National Bank Stadium.