Mustafizur included in Bangladesh Test squad for WI tour

Mustafizur Rahman has been included in the test squad for the forthcoming tour of West Indies which comprises two tests, three ODIs and three T20Is

Mustafizur’s inclusion puts an end to the debacle regarding his immediate test future. Mustafizur who last played red-ball cricket during the home series against the West Indies in 2021, was unwilling to play tests as he stressed on the need to pick and choose formats to lengthen his international career. 

Later, Bangladesh cricket board boss Nazmul Hasan asserted that Mustafizur will have to play test cricket if the team requires his presence. BCB recently sent him a letter asking him to clear his position regarding red ball cricket and the speedster eventually agreed to play tests. 

"He (Mustafizur) informed us that he is ready to play Test cricket," BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin told the press on Sunday (May 22). "Naturally his inclusion will strengthen our Test squad considering he is an experienced campaigner."

Meanwhile, Anamul Haque, who last represented Bangladesh in 2019 also returns to the T20I and ODI squads owing to his stupendous form in the Bangladesh T20 league where he scored more than 1000 runs. Nurul Hasan was also rewarded with a limited overs slot thanks to his tremendous form in the Bangladesh T20 League.

Mohammad Saifuddin also made a comeback in white ball cricket, having last played an international game during the T20 World Series in which he was ruled out midway due to a back injury. 

Khaled Ahmed and Mahmudul failed to retain their places in the ODI squad while Taskin Ahmed and Mohammad Naim were not considered for T20Is.

Abedin said that even though Taskin is not a part of the T20I squad, he will still travel with the team, and the team management will take a final call based on his fitness. 

Taskin and Shoriful, who are ruled out of the tests due to injuries, have been picked for the ODI squad while the latter also retained his spot in the T20I squad with the team management confident that he will be before the white ball affair. 

Shakib Al Hasan might not be considered for the ODIs as he has applied for a leave. The One Dayers against the West Indies are not a part of ICC’s Super League. “If Shakib applies for it, we will see that later and it is up to the BCB cricket operation to decide whether they will grant him leave or not."

Bangladesh will travel to the West Indies in three phases- June 3, 5 and 6. The opening Te3st will be played in Antigua from June 16-20 while the second test will be played in St.Lucia from June 24-28. The first two T20Is of three match series will be played in St. Dominica on July 2 and 3 respectively while the final T20I will be played in Guayana on July 7. The three ODIs are scheduled to be played in Guyana on July 10,13 and 16. 

Bangladesh squads for West Indies tour:

Test squad: Mominul Haque (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Yasir Ali, Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hassan, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shohidul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Nurul Hasan Sohan.

ODI squad: Tamim Iqbal (Captain), Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Yasir Ali, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehidy Hassan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Ebadot Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin and Anamul Haque Bijoy.

T20I squad: Mahmudullah (Captain), Munim Shahriar, Liton Das, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Yasir Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Shohidul Islam, Nasum Ahmed and Mohammad Saifuddin.