Bangladesh squad for Aussies first Test named

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced on Sunday a 15-member squad for the first match of the two-match Test series against Australia.

As usual, Najmul Hossain Shanto has been named Captain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been named his deputy.

Wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik has returned to the Test team after a year as Litton Das was not available in the first Test due to injury.

Bangladesh Test team Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amit Hasan, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice-Captain), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadat Hossain and Mushfik Hasan.

Jaker has performed consistently in domestic cricket recently. Last month, he scored three fifties in three innings for Bangladesh Emerging Team against Zimbabwe ‘A’ team.

He also had a century for Abahani in the Dhaka Premier League. Since making his Test debut in October 2024, Jaker scored 337 runs in 6 Tests at an average of 30.63.

Despite scoring four half-centuries, he has yet to score a century in Tests. His highest innings is 91 runs.

The team includes new face Amit Hasan, who made his debut against Zimbabwe.

The mainstay of the pace attack, Nahid Rana, has been dropped, but the rest of the pacers are still there.

Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Mushfik Hasan are in the speed attack. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam will be in charge of the spin department.

Bangladesh Cricket team will depart for Australia on July 31.

The first Test match between Bangladesh and Australia will be held at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin from August 13 to August 17.

The second Test will take place at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay from August 22 to August 26.