Soumya Returns After Five Years as Bangladesh Reshape Test Squad

Bangladesh have recalled Soumya Sarkar to their Test squad after a five-year absence, while Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Towhid Hridoy have been left out of the group selected for the upcoming series in Australia.

The decision reflects a combination of injuries, recent form, squad balance and the need to manage Bangladesh’s wider Test resources. Chief selector Habibul Bashar said the selectors had to work through a number of complications while assembling the squad after a series of injuries disrupted their initial plans.

The selectors also had to consider Bangladesh A’s two four-day matches against South Africa A in August. As a result, players who have not been included in the Australia Test squad, including Hridoy, Mahmudul and wicketkeeper-batter Mahidul Islam, will travel with the A team to gain valuable exposure to longer-format cricket.

Soumya’s return is the most notable change. The left-handed opener last played a Test against the West Indies in 2021, but his strong domestic record has helped earn him another opportunity at international level.

During the most recent National Cricket League season, Soumya scored 633 runs in seven matches at an average of 45.21, finishing as the competition’s leading run-scorer. His domestic form was a major factor in his selection, but the selectors also considered his experience of facing high-quality pace bowling.

Australia is expected to present a demanding challenge for Bangladesh’s top order, with fast bowlers likely to operate at considerable pace and make use of conditions that can test visiting batters. Soumya’s previous international experience, therefore, was viewed as an advantage when the selectors assessed their options.

Bashar explained that Soumya had spent many years playing international cricket and was familiar with the kind of pace Bangladesh could expect in Australia. The selectors had considered other opening options, but they felt that none of the available right-handed openers was sufficiently prepared at this stage.

Mahmudul’s omission, meanwhile, comes after a difficult recent run with the bat. In his last six innings as an opener, he has been dismissed for single-figure scores four times and has managed only one half-century during that period. Bashar said the selectors believed Mahmudul appeared vulnerable at present and would benefit from stepping away from the immediate Test pressure.

There was also a practical consideration. With the possibility that the team management could choose a different combination in Australia, Mahmudul’s chances of making the playing XI may have been limited. Sending him to South Africa with the A team is intended to give him competitive match practice and an opportunity to rebuild confidence.

Hridoy is in a similar position, although the selectors continue to view him as part of Bangladesh’s longer-term Test plans. He made his Test debut in Zimbabwe last month but endured a difficult introduction to the format. Bangladesh suffered an innings defeat, while Hridoy scored only two and nine in his two innings.

His exclusion from the Australia squad does not represent a rejection of his Test potential. The return of Mehidy Hasan Miraz has reduced the likelihood of Hridoy securing a place in the playing XI, according to Bashar. Rather than remaining on the sidelines, he will join the Bangladesh A team in South Africa, where two four-day matches should provide an opportunity to develop his skills in the longer format.

The selectors have taken a similar approach with Mahidul Islam. Although he was part of the Test squad in Zimbabwe, he did not feature in the playing XI. He will now travel to South Africa with the A team, while Zakir Ali has been selected as the wicketkeeper-batter for the Australia tour.

Zakir’s return also follows a period outside the national Test set-up. He last played Test cricket in June last year. Bashar said Zakir had not performed poorly when he was previously playing Tests, but later struggled with form after losing his place. The selectors wanted him to spend time playing high-performance matches before attempting to return to international cricket.

According to the chief selector, Zakir’s performances in the high-performance programme helped him regain his place in the national set-up. His return illustrates the selectors’ broader approach of using competitive four-day cricket and high-performance opportunities to prepare players for future Test assignments.

The two parallel campaigns will therefore serve different purposes for Bangladesh. The senior side will face the considerable challenge of playing Test cricket in Australia, while the A team will provide several players with an opportunity to strengthen their claims for future international selection.

Bangladesh will play the first Test against Australia in Darwin on 13 August, with the second Test scheduled to begin in Mackay on 22 August. Meanwhile, Bangladesh A will play their first four-day match against South Africa A on 16 August, followed by the second match from 23 August.

For Soumya, the Australia tour offers a chance to revive a Test career that appeared to have stalled after his last appearance five years ago. For Mahmudul and Hridoy, the immediate route back into the national Test set-up will run through performance and preparation with the A team. The selection decisions underline the selectors’ attempt to balance immediate requirements with the development of a wider pool of players capable of contributing to Bangladesh’s Test future.