Bangladesh Rest Taskin for Afghanistan Test as Hridoy and Jaker Return
Bangladesh have chosen preservation over firepower for their one-off Test against Afghanistan, resting spearhead Taskin Ahmed and turning to in-form batters Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali for the UAE assignment from October 9–13.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board named a 15-man squad on Saturday, with Najmul Hossain Shanto continuing as Test captain for a match that sits awkwardly between the demands of the World Test Championship and the need to manage fast-bowling resources.
Taskin protected for WTC push
Taskin’s omission is not a demotion. It is a calculation.
"We have decided to give rest to Taskin from this Test match. As we are prioritizing the Test Championship so we are looking forward to getting his full service during the Test series against West Indies," chief selector Habibul Bashar said, outlining the bigger picture.
The plan is clear: keep the premier quick fresh for four crucial home Tests in the current WTC cycle, two each against West Indies and England. Bashar even hinted at a tune-up in another format. Taskin "might play the ODI series against West Indies to get his rhythm as he is already playing Test matches," he added.
With Taskin out, the pace load will fall on Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury and Shoriful Islam, backed by the spin core of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam.
Hridoy rides 350-run wave
If Taskin’s rest is about tomorrow, Towhid Hridoy’s recall is about form today.
The right-hander forces his way back into the Test squad on the back of an extraordinary unbeaten 350 for Bangladesh A against South Africa A in Potchefstroom. That innings, still fresh in memory, has pushed the selectors to test his temperament in the longest format again.
For a player already seen as a white-ball mainstay, this is a chance to stretch his game in whites. A lone Test in neutral conditions, against an Afghanistan attack that can be dangerous but inconsistent, offers exactly that kind of stage.
Jaker back after near miss and long wait
Jaker Ali’s route back has been more winding.
He was pencilled into the Test squad for the Australia series when Litton Das looked doubtful for that tour. Once Litton recovered, Jaker quietly slipped out of the frame again without playing.
Now he returns with weight behind his name, not just opportunity. He struck 94 in the same South Africa A game where Hridoy stole the headlines, a reminder that he too can occupy the crease and score big.
"We have replaced Amite Hasan with Jaker Ali taking his form into consideration," Bashar said, confirming wicketkeeper-batter Amite Hasan’s omission after his earlier look-in.
Jaker last played a Test for Bangladesh in July 2025, against Sri Lanka in Galle. This recall for the Afghanistan fixture gives him another crack at a role that has been fiercely contested in recent years, with Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das still central to the batting and keeping options.
Rana held back for heavier traffic
The other key piece of the puzzle sits off the field for now. Young quick Nahid Rana remains in rehabilitation as he recovers from the Grade 2 side strain that has ruled him out since July.
"Rana will be available from October 10. We have four important WTC matches at home ahead of us, so we want to keep him ready for the two-match Test series against the West Indies and England," Bashar said.
That means no rush job for the UAE. Bangladesh want Rana fully primed for home conditions, where his pace can become a genuine point of difference on otherwise attritional surfaces.
Squad built for balance in the desert
The batting core around Shanto carries a familiar look: Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam and Soumya Sarkar as top-order options; Mominul Haque Showrab anchoring the middle; Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Kumer Das providing class and experience; Hridoy and Jaker adding fresh competition and flexibility.
Bangladesh Test squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque Showrab, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Kumer Das, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Shoriful Islam.
A single Test in the UAE will not define a WTC campaign. It will, however, reveal how well Bangladesh can juggle short-term results with long-term planning—resting their main quick, backing red-hot form, and keeping an eye firmly on West Indies and England waiting just over the horizon.
