‘Challenging’ conditions shape Test squad

Liton Das is set to make his debut as Test captain, standing-in for Shakib Al Hasan who is out injured, as the Bangladesh squad was announced yesterday for the lone Test against Afghanistan, to be held in Dhaka from June 14.

The selectors have picked uncapped batter Shahadat Hossain Dipu, alongside pacer Mushfik Hasan, who showed potential against West Indies A recently. Meanwhile, Zakir Hasan returned from injury and Mahmudul Hasan Joy was retained in the side and the batter will carry confidence following his unbeaten ton against West Indies A in the third four-day game in Sylhet.

The selection under head coach Chandika Hathurusingha was supposed to be aggressive and the presence of five pacers gives credence to the idea of an attacking selection policy. The Tigers lost their maiden Test against Afghanistan by 224 runs in Chattogram in 2019 and it inflicted major woes, one that caused BCB president Nazmul Hassan to suggest he was going investigate what went on in the strategical setup of the game despite the team management being aware of Afghanistan's spin-threat.

The furore was created by the Tigers picking no specialist pacer in the line-up for the match and the wicket favoured spin which played into Afghanistan's hand. This time, there would be the opportunity to go for different conditions despite the Mirpur track not generally favouring pacers.

Soaring temperatures has been a major challenge to city dwellers and people across the country and the team management are concerned about it as well. Pacer Taskin Ahmed has been rehabilitating since his side strain injury that ruled him out of the Ireland Test recently. With their ace pacer still on way to recovery, the team management were not in favour of taking any chances in terms of having enough numbers in pace attack. Thus, Taskin was picked with backups in mind.

"We are happy with the pace strength," chief selector Minhajul Abedin told The Daily Star yesterday.

"It will be a challenging series since we are playing in such intense heat and the wicket will be very challenging. So, I am hoping that our players will do well. Afghanistan are a strong side and they will be facing a very good challenge."

Bangladesh picked two spinners in Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam while the pace attack also consists of Khaled Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Ebadot Hossain.

Allan Donald was working closely with the pace group yesterday as the likes of Taskin, Ebadot, and Khaled bowled at a separate net against the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Najmul Hossain. The conditioning would be necessary while the need to improve the pacers' arsenal would have been on the agenda, given that only two spinners have been picked.

Chandika, who arrived a day before, joined the session yesterday and oversaw the batters at work, focusing on Tamim during a majority of the left-hander's net session as preparation swung into gear.