Kolkata: The history of cricket in Bangladesh predates the foundation of the Bangladesh state in 1971 by nearly two centuries. In November 2000, i.e from 10-13th November, Bangladesh played their inaugural Test match against India at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.
After this 16 years of interval, Bangladesh is again ready to play a Test against India and that too for the first time in India. India will play Bangladesh in one-off Test between 9-13,2017, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.The Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan said that the tour would be cherished experience for players and the fans of both countries.
In an interview to the The Hindu newspaper ,HCA secretary,K.John Manoj said that a long wait for a Test had ended and as soon as BCCI making mandatory to have seat numbers for the Tests, they will soon be into this job.
In the Bangladesh squad Captain Mushfiqur Rahim and top order batsmen Mominul Haque and Imrul Kayes,who missed Bangladesh’s previous Test in Christ Church with injuries will return to the squard.Even fast bowler Shafiul Islam will also be added in the squad.
Mustafizur Rahman,who recently followed a shoulder surgery had missed the two Tests in New Zealand with hamstring injury.This left arm seamer has been left out of the squad.
Nurul Hassan kept wickets in Mushfiqur’s absence in Christ church, but selectors decided to keep Liton Das,who has a first-class average of 51.75 over him.Wicketkeeper- batsman Liton Das had scored a double century in the Bangladesh premiere league recently and has been recalled to Bangladesh’s squad for this February one-off Test.
However Bangladesh’s Test squad is bringing full batting strength back by bringing Mominul and Imrul in their squad.
Bangladesh will have 4 pace option in Hyderabad with the inclusion of Shafiul,the others being Kamrul Islam Rabbi,Task in Ahmed and Subhashis Roy. They will have Shakib Al Hassan,Mehenfi Hasan and Taijul Islam to choose from in the spin department.
The Squad:
Mushfiqur Rahim (capt&WK), Tamim Iqbal, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmuduallah, Shakib Al Hassan, Mehedi Hasan, Taijul Islam, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Soumya Sarkar,Ta skin Ahmed, Subhashis Roy, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das(WK), Mominul Haque, Shafiul Islam.