Soumya and Jaker Recalled as Bangladesh Name Test Squad

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming first Test against Australia, marking the nation’s first red-ball tour Down Under in 23 years. Uncapped fast bowler Mushfik Hasan has earned a maiden inclusion, whilst veteran opener Soumya Sarkar and wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali make high-profile returns to the longest format.

An injury to young pace prospect Nahid Rana created an opening for Mushfik Hasan’s selection. The right-arm fast bowler previously earned call-ups to the national squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in 2023 and the home series against Sri Lanka in 2024, though he remains uncapped. He joins an experienced seam attack comprising Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, and Syed Khaled Ahmed.

Injury has also sidelined key wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das for the opening fixture, although team management remains optimistic that he will recover in time for the second and final Test.

Soumya Sarkar’s return comes after an absence of five and a half years from Test cricket. His last appearance in Bangladesh’s whites came against the West Indies at Mirpur in February 2021. Since making his debut in 2015, the top-order batter has accumulated 831 runs across 16 Tests. Meanwhile, Jaker Ali returns to the squad following a one-year hiatus. Having debuted in 2024, Jaker last featured during the away series in Sri Lanka in June of that year, assembling 337 runs across six Test appearances.

The touring party is scheduled to depart for Australia on 1 August. Before entering the competitive arena, Bangladesh will play a three-day warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI at the DXC Arena in Darwin from 6 to 8 August.

The series opener begins on 13 August at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin, with the final Test set to commence on 22 August in Mackay. Bangladesh last played a Test series on Australian soil in 2003, when they suffered a two-match whitewash.

Bangladesh Squad for the First Test:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice-Captain), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanjid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amit Hasan, Jaker Ali Anik, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Mushfik Hasan.