Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Bangladesh fast-bowler Rubel Hossain was named in the 14-member squad to face India in the solitary Test which begins on 10th June at Fatullah after recovering from a grade-I side strain.
Rubel takes the place of Shahadat Hossain who injured his knee on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan which has ruled him out for at least six months, reports cricketworld.
Captain Mushfiqur Rahim will lead a squad which will feature Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes opening the batting while Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah will form the middle order.
Tamim and Imrul were the top run scorers for Bangladesh in the two Tests against Pakistan where the duo scored 277 and 249 runs from two matches respectively.
Apart from Rubel the pace attack consists of Mohammad Shahid and Abul Hasan whereas Shuvagata Hom, Taijul Islam and Jubair Hossain take the role of specialist spinners.
Taijul was the joint highest wicket taker in the series against Pakistan where he picked up 10 wickets at an average of 39.80 including a five wicket haul.
Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan revealed that Rahim might not be able to keep wickets because of the finger injury sustained in the first Test against Pakistan.
“If Mushfiqur feels the pressure, he will have to decide on it. He has to take a call on which one he wants. In my opinion the wicket-keeping will come up for consideration first.
“As far as I know, he wants to keep wickets. But since he hasn't fully recovered from injury ahead of this [India] series, there is some doubt about it. He may not keep wickets,” said Hassan.
Keeping this in mind, the selectors have named uncapped 20-year old wicket-keeper Litton Das as the cover for Rahim in the squad.
Bangladesh chief selector Faruque Ahmed opined that the selection of the final eleven was up to the team management, further adding that he would prefer a combination of seven batsman and four bowlers.
“The playing eleven will depend on the team management. If our strength is batting and we want to draw the match then it [fielding eight batsmen] is not a wrong strategy.
“But if the opponents [bat first and] score more than 600 runs then the pressure is on you.
“I feel that if we can field seven batsmen and four bowlers in the side that will be enough for us.
“We can have four specialist bowlers in the eleven, excluding Shakib Al Hasan.”
Ahmed expressed confidence in Bangladesh’s batting line-up which according to him was competent enough to avoid defeat against a team like India.
“I believe batting is still our strength and at home we are at a stage where we can avoid a defeat.”
India are touring Bangladesh for a solitary Test and three One-Day Internationals to be played between 10th June and 24th June.
BANGLADESH SQUAD FOR THE ONLY TEST AGAINST INDIA:
Mushfiqur Rahim (c & wk), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Shuvagata Hom, Taijul Islam, Mohammad Shahid, Rubel Hossain, Jubair Hossain, Litton Das, Abul Hasan.
BBN/AI/ANS