|| CF DESK ||

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has named squad for the Test series against Pakistan, which will be played Friday in Chittagong. Hosts Bangladesh have suffered a whitewash in the T20Is 3-0. 

Mahmudul Hasan Joy, a 21-year-old Chittagong Division batter who has already scored two hundreds in the present National Cricket League, and Rejaur Rahman Raja, a Sylhet bowler, were both given their first call-ups to the squad.

Ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan is also in the 16-men squad, but his fitness will be examined before he is considered for the first Test.

Raja, who has represented the BCB High Performance Unit and Emerging Team, has taken 33 wickets for Sylhet and Islami Bank East Zone in ten first-class matches.

“It is still early days for him but Mahmudul has showed good temperament for the longer version. He is also an in-form batsman. With injury concerns to Taskin (Ahmed) and Shariful (Islam), we needed to keep our pace bowling options open and Raja got the nod. We have been monitoring his performances in first class competitions. He is strong and energetic and has a knack for taking wickets,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin to media.

“There is a fair bit of experience if you consider that Mominul (Haque), Mushfiqur (Rahim), Shakib, Taijul (Islam) and Miraz (Mehedi Hasan) are all part of the squad. We will obviously have to wait to see if Shakib makes it for the first Test but these players have been the most consistent performers for us in Tests and their presence can make a difference.

“We have options in the spin department as well as in pace. The team for the first Test is made up of cricketers who have been playing together regularly and they know the demands of Test matches. Pakistan are a formidable team but we are confident that Bangladesh will be competitive if we are disciplined and patient.”

The second Test will be held in Dhaka from December 4-8.

Bangladesh squad for first Test