Bangladesh have recalled fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana for the three Twenty20s against Australia in Chattogram next week, the pair having sat out the April series versus New Zealand. Both men remain central to the white-ball plans and, in truth, their omission last time was always billed as a breather rather than a demotion.
Chief selector Habibul Bashar confirmed the reshuffle on Thursday. Seamer Ripon Mondol and the all-round option Mohammad Saifuddin make way. It feels harsh on Mondol, who bowled tidily in New Zealand, yet Bashar insisted the decision was straightforward: “part of the team management’s rotation policy.”
Rana, 21, owns just one T20I cap – against the UAE 13 months ago – while Taskin has not featured in the format since Zimbabwe last October. Both should share the new ball alongside the left-armers Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam, with uncapped quick Abdul Gaffar Saqlain retained as cover.
The selectors also tweaked the Test squad for the one-off trip to Harare, starting 28 June. Towhid Hridoy, a familiar face in limited-overs cricket, receives his first Test call-up despite only 16 first-class appearances. Bashar explained the gamble in blunt terms: “to add to the aggression with the bat.” Whether that aggression survives the Dukes ball in Zimbabwean winter conditions is another matter.
Four regulars – Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful, Taskin and Rana – are rested from the red-ball group. Khaled Ahmed returns, and there is a first summons for medium-paceman Robiul Haque, viewed by the panel as someone who “could be nurtured as a fast-bowling allrounder.” His 107 wickets and 620 runs in 32 games for Barishal suggest raw materials, if not yet a finished product.
Schedule, for those keeping diaries: Australia’s T20Is land on 17, 19 and 21 June; the Test party departs on the 23rd, with the match at Harare Sports Club pencilled in for 28 June to 2 July.
Squads in full
T20Is v Australia
Litton Das (capt & wk), Parvez Hossain, Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Shamim Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain.
One-off Test v Zimbabwe
Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Towhid Hridoy, Amite Hasan, Robiul Haque.
A quick thought to finish. Australia’s pace unit should enjoy the coastal breeze at Chattogram, so Bangladesh’s decision to bolster their own speed stocks makes sense. The Test call-ups, meanwhile, look a nod towards 2027 – blood them now, hope the lessons stick later. Imperfect? Certainly. But rotation beats burnout every time.
