CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh: Bangladesh on Sunday included four uncapped cricketers in their 14-member squad for next week’s first Test in a two-match series against England.
Middle-order batsman Sabbir Rahman and wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan made it to the squad for the first time along with off-spinning all-rounder Mehedi Hasan and pace bowler Kamrul Islam.
Sabbir is a regular member of the country’s limited-overs sides while Nurul played six Twenty20 internationals. The other two have yet to play any international match.
Bangladesh have not played a Test match since facing South Africa in July last year, when only three days of play was possible in two Tests due to rain.
Pace bowler Shafiul Islam and Shuvagata Hom, who were not part of the squad in the South Africa series, have returned.
Shafiul and Kamrul are the only two pacemen in a spinner-heavy squad. “We did not want to take too many pacers as the match is going to be played on a flat pitch,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin.
“We included Kamrul ahead of other contenders as he is quick and has played some longer-version matches recently.
“Sabbir came to the squad because we need someone at six or seven who can play pace bowlers well.
“Nurul came to the side as back-up wicketkeeper to Mushy (Mushfiqur Rahim),” he said.
The opening Test starts on Thursday in the port city of Chittagong. The second Test will start in Dhaka on October 28.
Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan, Shuvagata Hom, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Kamrul Islam, Nurul Hasan.
