Soumya, Jaker return for first Australia Test

Opener Soumya Sarkar and wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali returned to the Test setup, while pacer Mushfik Hasan earned a place in Bangladesh's 15-member squad for the opening Test of the two-match series against Australia, beginning on August 13 at Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin.

Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy was left out after a run of poor starts at the top of the order.

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Left-hander Soumya returns to the Test fold after more than four years, having last featured against the West Indies in Mirpur in February 2021.

Jaker, meanwhile, comes back after falling out of favour following a prolonged lean patch. His last Test appearance came against Sri Lanka in Galle in June last year, and he is expected to bolster the lower middle order. 

Right-handed batter Amite Hasan, who made his debut during the recently concluded tour of Zimbabwe, retained his place in the squad. Fellow right-hander Tawhid Hridoy, who also made his debut in that one-off Test in Harare, was however, left out after registering scores of three and nine. 

Tall right-arm pacer Mushfik has been on the fringes of the national setup through various programmes. He received his maiden Test call-up against Afghanistan in 2023 but is yet to make his debut.

Bangladesh's pace attack has been hit hard by injuries to young quick Nahid Rana and regular left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam. Alongside Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud, the Tigers' fast-bowling unit will comprise Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Mushfik.

The squad will depart for Australia on July 31 before taking on a Cricket Australia XI in a three-day practice match at the DXC Arena in Darwin from August 6-8.

The second Test will begin on August 21 at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.

Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Tamim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (VC), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Musfik Hasan