Bangladesh Includes Former Captains for Matches Against Pakistan Shaheens

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has selected former Test captains Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque to participate in a four-day match against Pakistan Shaheens, ahead of the two-match Test series against Pakistan's senior men's team.

The series in Islamabad include two four-day games and three one-day matches, taking place from August 10-27. The first four-day game is scheduled for August 10-13, while the Test series between the senior teams begins on August 21 in Rawalpindi.

Abdur Razzak, a member of the national selection panel, mentioned to Cricbuzz that Mushfiqur and Mominul had requested to be included in the first four-day game as part of their preparation for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan.

Seven players from the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, including Shahadat Hossain, Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan, Nayeem Hasan, and Hasan Mahmud, have been selected for this four-day match. However, young middle-order batsman Shahadat Hossain, who played in the last four Tests against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, is expected to continue with the Bangladesh A team for the second four-day game.

The inclusion of Mossadek Hossain, last seen in Test action in 2022 against Sri Lanka, was a surprise for some. Razzak explained that they included players like Mossadek to have experienced players ready as potential replacements, given the upcoming eight Test matches.

He highlighted the importance of these matches for assessing and preparing players, especially as Bangladesh anticipates series against New Zealand, South Africa, and possibly the West Indies. The A team's matches provide valuable opportunities for players needing competitive practice.

Bangladesh A squads for the series:

First Four-Day Match:  

- Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mahidul Islam Ankhon, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Murad, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rahman Rejaur Raja, Ruyel Miah.

Second Four-Day Match:  

- Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mohammad Naim, Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Zaker Ali Anik, Towhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam Ankhon, Hasan Murad, Tanvir Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rahman Rejaur Raja, Ruyel Miah.

One-Day Series:  

- Soumya Sarkar, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mohammad Naim, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam Ankhon, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Zaker Ali Anik, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rahman Rejaur Raja, Ruyel Miah.