|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh Cricket Board on Saturday included Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar in the 15-member squad for the upcoming two- Test series opener against Pakistan that had no place for pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman.

Tamim and Soumya returns to the Test squad that also paved ways for Rubel Hossain and Nazmul Hossain Shanto also make a comeback as they are travelling to Pakistan for the first of the two-match Test series against Pakistan, set to be played in Rawalpindi from February 7 to 11.

Mustafizur exclusion certainly gives him a reality check as this is the first time team management decided to exclude Mustafizur for failing to perform instead of giving him another opportunity to warm the bench during a Test match.

The left-arm pace bowling bowling sensation Fizz is not featuring regularly in Test match and according to chief selector Minhajul Abedin they are not interested to carry someone jiust for his status as a sensation.

Chief selector Minhajul Abedin told Daily Sun that they have dropped Mustafizur Rahman due to his form and expect him to return after having good amount of preparation in the domestic circuit to take the workload required for five-day cricket.

‘’He was dropped due to form and he is not regular member of our Test XI in the recent past for many reasons,’’ said Minhajul regarding the exclusion of the cutter master.

“We feel that he should spend some good amount of time in the domestic tournament so that he can earn the bowling fitness that is required to play longer version cricket,’’ he said.

‘’We all know he is a champion bowler but somehow he is unable to meet our expectations and we feel that he is lacking match fitness to some extent,’’ he said.

Chief selector Minhajul Abedin told Cricfrenzy.com on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Mehidy Hasan, who has injured his finger, and out of form Mustafizur Rahman do not find a place in the side. Instead, pacer Rubel Hossain has earned a recall to the Test side.

Shadman Islam, who was a part of the side that played against India, has been ruled out forwrist injury that paved ways for Nazmul Hossain Shanto to make a return after a long gap.

‘’We have always kept Nazmul under our radar and he is scoring regularly in domestic cricket and after Sadman was ruled out of the opening Test due to his wrist injury we felt that it is the right time to re-introduce Nazmul at international level,’’ said Minhajul.

‘’I am sure he will make it count this time if he gets a chance in the playing XI as he is more matured now with his skill and approach,’’ he said adding that they called back Soumya Sarkar to act as stop-gap arrangement.