Bangladesh team for the two match test series against Zimbabwe has been announced today. The good news for the Bangladeshi fans is that their star All-Rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been included in the squad.
Their chief selector Akram Khan also indicated that Shakib will be playing as a batsman in the first test and has some chance of bowling in the second test. Shakib is recovering from a stress fracture that ruled him out of the Sri Lankan tour last month.
Bangladesh Test Squad for Zimbabwe Tour
Tamim Iqbal who injured his Right Thumb Finger in the First ODI against Sri Lanka has been included in the 15 man squad and is likely to miss the first test which begins on April 17,2013 but the selectors are confident of Tamim getting fit in time for the second test that commences on April 25, 2013.
There was no place for Naeem Islam, who also withdrew from Lankan tour with a tear in his right quadriceps. Impressive Opening Batsman Anamul Haque misses out of the tour due to college exams because of which he missed the one-off T20 against Sri Lanka and he has taken a short leave from cricket to concentrate on his academics. Abul Hasan, who made a dream debut for Bangladesh against the West Indies by scoring a ton batting at no. 10 was ruled out of the entire tour with a back injury. Marshall Ayub and Elias Sunny has been dropped from the side.
Shahriar Nafees and Enamul Haque have also been included in the squad after both missed the Sri Lanka tour with injuries. Shahriar Nafees cut his hand while shaving his bat, and Enamul Haque suffering from a hamstring injury.
There are some surprises in the bowling Department. Shahadat Hossain who has been undergoing a lot of criticisms has been picked in the squad. Discarded Left Arm Medium Pacer Sajidul Islam has been selected in the Squad after a long gap of five years.
“Shahadat is a Test specialist so we want to continue with him. We are having a shortage of pace bowlers, so we need him to perform. Sajidul has made a return after doing well in the Bangladesh Cricket League lately. He has been one of the pace bowlers training in the Academy over the last month while the senior side was in Sri Lanka” said Akram Khan on the inclusion of Sajidul and Shahadat.
Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Tamim Iqbal, Jahurul Islam, Sohag Gazi, Rubel Hossain, Shahadat Hossain, Shahriar Nafees, Enamul Haque, Robiul Islam, Sajidul Islam.
Cricmatez.com’s take on the squad: The squad looks balanced with the return of Shakib. The batting looks solid with Ashraful back to his best and the return of Nafees has been a blessing in disguise for the team. Bowling department looks weak and inexperienced. That should be a worrying sign for them.
Possible Playing XI:
Shahriar Nafees, Jahurul Islam(Tamim for second test), Ashraful, Shakib, Rahim( C and WK) , Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Enamul Haque Jr.
