Bangladesh have handed uncapped opener Mahfijul Islam a first Test call-up for the two-match series in South Africa, with Mohammad Naim recalled after four years and Shadman Islam ruled out injured.
Mahfijul, who plays for Mymensingh Division, has been the domestic season’s form batter: 672 runs at 74.67 in five National Cricket League matches, with three centuries including a double-century against Chattogram Division.
Chief selector Habibul Bashar said the uncapped opener got his break because Bangladesh wanted a right-handed opener in the squad. “We brought in [Mahfijul] Robin because we felt it was crucial to have a right-handed opener,” Bashar said. “We didn’t really have anyone else ready. I believe he has proven himself.”
Bashar revealed the announcement was delayed because Mahmudul Hasan Joy, the opener originally in line to travel, was ruled out on Sunday afternoon due to medical reasons. Naim, 27, comes in for the injured Shadman, who hurt his ankle fielding on the first day of the Sylhet Test after his century in the first Test in Dhaka. Naim has played one Test, against New Zealand four years ago, plus nine ODIs and 38 T20Is, and has scored 612 runs in the National Cricket League this season, including a double-century and two other hundreds.
Soumya Sarkar and offspinner Nayeem Hasan have been dropped, with fast bowler Khaled Ahmed taking Nayeem’s place. Mominul Haque returns after missing the second Test against West Indies.
Bangladesh remain without Nahid Rana, who is recovering from a side strain in Perth, where he has seen a specialist and is training with a local side. Bashar said the fast bowler has bowled at 90 per cent intensity and could return by November 15, but the selectors do not want to rush him. “He is definitely ruled out of the Test series,” Bashar said, adding it was unlikely Rana would feature in the ODIs but that he could be available for the T20Is.
The rest of the pace attack — Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain and Khaled — will be expected to do the heavy lifting in conditions expected to help the quicks.
Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Naim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Mahfijul Islam. The first Test starts in Johannesburg on November 15, followed by the second in Centurion from November 23, with three ODIs and three T20Is to follow. Hridoy returns to the country where he struck an unbeaten 350 in an ‘A’ game this year — the highest first-class score by an overseas batter in South Africa.
Related: “Towhid Hridoy’s Unbeaten 242 Powers Bangladesh to 30-Run Lead Over West Indies in Sylhet” ; “Hasan Mahmud’s Career-Best 6 for 90 Bowls West Indies Out for 356 as Bangladesh Hit Back in Sylhet“
