Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday announced the squad for the upcoming first home Test against Zimbabwe, set to begin in Sylhet on April 20. The most notable omission is pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed, and his absence paves the way for a maiden Test call-up for young pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib.

Taskin is suffering from an Achilles tendon issue and will miss the entire series against Zimbabwe, BCB chief physician Debashish Chowdhury was quoted as saying in a media release. Having also sat out Mohammedan's last two Dhaka Premier League (DPL) matches, the club awaits further medical reports before confirming Taskin's return to domestic action.

Right-arm fast bowler Khaled Ahmed makes a return after he was excluded following last year's India Test series, while Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, and Sakib make up the pace battery. Rana, however, is set to depart after the first Test to play in the franchise-based Pakistan Super League.

While there was room for experimentation in the batting order, the selectors have gone with the tried and tested. Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, and Zakir Hasan were included as openers. All three have featured regularly, and chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu reminded that all three -- especially Joy or Zakir -- have the opportunity to solidify their positions in the side.

Mushfiqur Rahim and skipper Nazmul Hossain Shanto, meanwhile, return after the West Indies series. The return of the experienced duo meant Shahadat Hossain Dipu was excluded.

Moreover, middle-order batter Mahidul Islam Ankon was included as Liton Das will be playing in the PSL, while spinner Nayeem Hasan returned in place of Hasan Murad.

The chief selector talked about the lack of experimentation in this series, which had been expected as it is not part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle.

"We are returning to the Test format after almost four-and-a-half months. Then we have the Sri Lanka series in June. That's why we didn't want to do any experiments."

While it might have been prudent to give opportunities to youngsters such as Dipu, who impressed in the West Indies tour, or others against a relatively weaker opponent at home, Lipu said the opportunity is there for them to feature against New Zealand A in May or Bangladesh HP's series against South Africa at home.

The recent underperformance of the top order was also an issue in the squad announcement. "It's very important for us to do well, especially at home. We haven't been able to do well against Sri Lanka and South Africa last year.

"We are entering red-ball by playing white-ball cricket, so it will be a challenge," Lipu said, adding the series is an opportunity to improve those performances, in batting and bowling terms, to be better prepared for the Sri Lanka tour in June–July.

Lipu further informed pacer Ebadot Hossain, currently playing DPL, is being "observed". Regarding 22-year-old Tanzim -- who has featured in 16 first-class matches but has already played in 10 ODIs and 18 T20Is for the Tigers -- he said the right-armer has featured in white-ball cricket and "has shown potential" in the white-ball format.

"There is an eagerness to do well. Tanzim has got the pace and ability to take wickets and was included."