Bangladesh Cheif Selector Said, 'We Have A Busy Schedule With Eight Test Matches By December"

After Bangladesh failed to qualify in the semi-finals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 by getting defeated by Afghanistan in a must-win game, they will be seen playing against Pakistan in 2 Test match series starting from August 21 to September 3, 2024, in the process of ICC World Test Championship 2025. However, the Bangla Lions are sitting at the 8th position of the ICC Test ranking after finding just 1 win out of 4 games with 12 points.

Despite poor performance by the former captain Shakib Al Hasan in the concluded ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, they have backed him up for the test series against Pakistan, as confirmed by Bangladesh chief Selctors  Gazi Ashraf Hossain on Monday.

In the middle of the World Cup, the star all-rounder was ruled out due to a fractured finger. However, after the confirmation came it was clear that he would be part of Bangladesh's playing XI in the first test match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi under the captaincy of Shanto.

Bangladesh will have eight Test matches in the remainder of the year starting with the two-match Test series against Pakistan. Following the Pakistan series, Bangladesh are scheduled for a two-match Test series against India, South Africa and West Indies, respectively.

The confirmation came after Shakib had earlier hinted that he is yet to decide whether he'd play against India as he was only planning till the two-match Test series against Pakistan.

Talking about this Gazi Ashraf Hossain said, "Probably at the end of July, we talked to Shakib and there were discussions with me regarding his fitness. During the Zimbabwe series, we wanted to understand his short-term plans. We have a busy schedule with eight Test matches by December. He assured us that he would play all the Tests and attend all practice sessions before each series. He is expected to join the team around August 14 or 15," Ashraf told reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.

Squads:

Bangladesh Squad:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed

Pakistan Squad:

Saud Shakeel (capt), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saad Baig (wk), Saad Khan, Saim Ayub, Sameen Gul, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Umar Amin