Jaker Ali Anik has returned to squad after more than a year as the right-handed wicketkeeper-batter was initially included as a replacement for Litton Das during Bangladesh’s first Test of the Australia tour after Litton suffered an injury.
However, once Litton recovered, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) informed Jaker that he would be sent home.
Jaker later travelled to South Africa with the Bangladesh A team, where he produced an impressive 94 against South Africa A. His performance has now earned him a place in the Test squad for the Afghanistan match.
Towhid Hridoy has also been recalled to the Test side. Hridoy made his Test debut during Bangladesh’s tour of Zimbabwe but was left out of the squad for the Australia series. He made a strong case for his return during the Bangladesh A team’s tour of South Africa, scoring a remarkable unbeaten 350 in the second four-day match.
Hridoy's marathon innings came off 481 balls and included 27 fours and 10 sixes.
Amit Hasan, who was part of Bangladesh’s squad for the Australia tour, has been left out of the Afghanistan Test squad. Meanwhile, pacer Taskin Ahmed has been rested as the selectors look to manage his workload with important matches in the World Test Championship ahead.
Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam have been named in the pace attack for the Afghanistan Test.
Nahid Rana remains unavailable after suffering a side strain during Bangladesh’s tour of Zimbabwe. The pacer has yet to fully recover from the injury, and the BCB has opted not to risk him with an important schedule ahead.
Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, pacer Musfik Hasan and Iqbal Hossain Emon will travel with the Test squad as reserves.
The one-off Test against Afghanistan is scheduled to take place from October 9 to 13 in the UAE, although Afghanistan are yet to confirm the venue.
Following the Test, Bangladesh will also take part in a three-nation ODI series involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh squad
Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Shoriful Islam.
Travelling reserves: Nayeem Hasan, Musfik Hasan, Iqbal Hossain Emon.
