The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 16-member squad for a two-match ICC World Test Championship series against South Africa. The team is currently ranked fifth in the World Test Championship standings.
Mahfijul Islam, an uncapped batter, earned a spot in the squad following a strong performance in the National Cricket League. The 22-year-old has scored a double century and a century in his last three games. Islam has accumulated over 1000 runs in 19 first-class appearances with an average of 33.67.
The squad remains largely unchanged from the team currently playing the West Indies. However, Khaled Ahmed replaces Nayeem Hasan, a move attributed to the expected pace-friendly conditions in South Africa. Opener Naim Sheikh also received a recall; his previous Test appearance was his red-ball international debut against New Zealand in 2022.
Mominul Haque returns to the lineup after missing the second Test against the West Indies due to a mandatory seven-day concussion protocol following a head injury in the first match. Conversely, Shadman Islam is excluded from the squad after suffering a freak ankle injury while fielding during the second Test against the West Indies. Islam was stretchered off the field and ruled out for the remainder of that match.
The squad includes Najmul Hossain Shanto as captain, along with Tanzid Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Tawhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, and Mahfijul Islam.
The series is scheduled to begin with the first Test from 15-19 November in Johannesburg, followed by the second Test from 23-27 November in Centurion.
