Bangladesh name squads for all-format West Indies tour, Mustafizur Rahman makes red-ball comeback

Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been included in the Bangladesh squad for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies starting June 16. The pacer will be donning the whites for Bangladesh after 2021. In September last year, Rahman had decided to take a break from Test cricket to focus on his limited-overs career.

However, it has been reported that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) boss Nazmul Hasan has demanded the speedster to be back in the red-ball cricket. The report also states that the national cricket board had sent a letter to Mustafizur asking him to take a clear stand on his participation in the longest format of the game and the left-arm quick agreed to serve them.

Mustafizur informed us that he is ready to play Test cricket: BCB chief

“He (Mustafizur) informed us that he is ready to play Test cricket. Naturally his inclusion will strengthen our Test squad considering he is an experienced campaigner,” BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin told Cricbuzz.

Rahman missed the ongoing two-match home Test series against Sri Lanka as he was participating in the ongoing IPL 2022 where he represented the Delhi Capitals. Delhi were eliminated after a five-wicket loss against the Mumbai Indians on Saturday, May 21. He finished the tournament with eight wickets from as many games at an economy rate of 7.63.

Meanwhile, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has decided to skip the tour as he is set to go on a pilgrimage. The one-month all-format bilateral series consists of two Test matches, three T20Is, and as many One Day Internationals from June 16 to July 16.

The opening Test will be played in Antigua on June 16 followed by the final one at St Lucia from June 24. The action will then shift towards the white-ball series, with the first two T20Is to be held in Dominica on July 2 and 3 and the last game will be played in Guyana on July 7. The three ODIs are scheduled to be played in Guyana on July 10, 13, and 16. The Tests will be a part of the World Test Championship, however, the ODIs will not be counted towards the ODI World Cup Super League.