Bangladesh Rest Taskin for Afghanistan Test: Hridoy and Jaker Earn Chance
Bangladesh have chosen preservation over firepower for their one-off Test against Afghanistan, resting pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed and turning to in-form batters Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali for the UAE assignment.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Saturday named a 15-man squad for the lone Test, to be played from October 9 to 13, with Najmul Hossain Shanto continuing as captain.
Taskin Protected for Bigger Battles
Taskin’s omission is strategic, not punitive. With a demanding World Test Championship schedule looming, the selectors have decided not to risk their premier quick in a neutral-venue fixture just days before a crucial home stretch.
“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 explained.
He indicated Taskin could still feature in the ODI series against West Indies to keep his rhythm.
The message is clear: Bangladesh want Taskin peaking, not merely available, when the West Indies land for a two-match Test series, with England to follow in the current WTC cycle.
Hridoy’s 350 Forces the Door Open
If Taskin’s absence is about long-term planning, Hridoy’s inclusion is about form too loud to ignore.
Only weeks ago in Potchefstroom, Towhid Hridoy hammered an unbeaten 350 for Bangladesh A against South Africa A, a statement innings that has fast-tracked him into the Test squad. It was the kind of marathon knock that selectors crave in red-ball cricket: patience, concentration, and a ruthless streak once set.
Now he walks into a Test dressing room with the weight of that score behind him and a chance to show it was not just an A-team anomaly but a sign of a player ready for the highest level.
Jaker Back After Galle, Amite Misses Out
Wicketkeeper-batter Amite Hasan makes way, with Jaker Ali recalled on the back of his own solid work against South Africa A.
“We have replaced Amite Hasan with Jaker Ali taking his form into consideration,” Bashar said, a straightforward endorsement of runs on the board.
Jaker scored 94 in the same Potchefstroom match where Hridoy stole the headlines. It was another reminder of his red-ball credentials, two years after his last Test appearance in Galle against Sri Lanka in July 2025. He had previously been drafted into the squad for the Australia series when Litton Das was a doubt, only to step aside once the senior keeper recovered.
Now, with Litton fit and present, Jaker returns as a versatile option, giving Bangladesh depth in both the middle order and the glove-work department.
Rana Held Back for Home WTC Block
While the UAE Test offers opportunities, the management remains cautious with young quick Nahid Rana. He is still under rehabilitation from a Grade 2 side strain that has sidelined him 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.
The timing is delicate. Rana becomes available a day into the Afghanistan Test, but the selectors have resisted any temptation to rush him. With four home WTC Tests on the horizon, Bangladesh clearly view him as a key piece of their long-term pace puzzle.
Shanto Leads a Familiar Core
Around the new and returning faces, the spine of the Bangladesh Test side remains intact. Shanto leads a group built on experience and continuity: Tanzid Hasan and Shadman Islam at the top, the versatile Soumya Sarkar, the seasoned Mominul Haque, and the heavyweight middle-order pair of Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Kumer Das.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam provide tried-and-tested spin options, while Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, and Shoriful Islam round out the pace unit in Taskin’s absence.
Bangladesh Test squad vs Afghanistan (UAE, Oct 9–13): 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 one-off Test in the UAE might look like a standalone chapter, but the selection sheet tells a different story: Bangladesh are already writing for the long series ahead, not just the next toss.
