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Opener Soumya Sarkar has been recalled to Bangladesh’s Test squad after more than five years, as selectors opted for experience and proven ability against pace ahead of next month’s series in Australia.
Chief selector Habibul Bashar said injuries and scheduling challenges, including Bangladesh A’s upcoming four-day series against South Africa Emerging, played a role in shaping the squad.
Soumya, who last played a Test in February 2021 against the West Indies, replaces Mahmudul Hasan Joy after an impressive domestic season. He scored 633 runs in seven National Cricket League matches, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer.
“Soumya has played international cricket for a long time. The pace and bounce we expect in Australia are conditions he is familiar with,” Bashar said.
Mahmudul, meanwhile, has been left out following a poor run of form, managing just one fifty in his last six Test innings. He will instead feature for Bangladesh A.
Towhid Hridoy has also been omitted after a modest debut against Zimbabwe. Bashar, however, reiterated that Hridoy remains part of Bangladesh’s long-term Test plans, with the upcoming four-day matches seen as key to his development.
All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz returns to the squad, limiting opportunities in the middle order, while wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali earns a recall after regaining form through the High Performance programme.
Bangladesh will begin the two-Test series against Australia in Darwin on August 13, with the second Test scheduled in Mackay from August 22. Meanwhile, Bangladesh A will take on South Africa Emerging in four-day matches starting August 16 and 23.
Squad:
Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Musfik Hasan.