New Skipper announced for Bangladesh against Afghanistan test

Litton Kumar Das has been named Bangladesh’s captain for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan. The Bangladesh Cricket Board released a 15-man squad on Sunday, including two uncapped players in Shahadat Hossain and Mushfik Hasan.

Litton will become the country’s 12th Test captain, filling the vacancy left by Shakib al Hasan‘s finger injury during the tour of Ireland, which forced him to miss the series.

After the team was announced, BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin spoke to Cricbuzz.

“I think he (Litton) has got all the credentials to lead the Test squad and it’s a big honor for him,” Minhajul Abedin said.

Litton, who led Bangladesh’s ODI side against India in December last year but has rarely captained on the local circuit, was also mentioned.

“It’s an opportunity for us to see him as Test leader and we believe he will lead from the front,” he added.

Minhajul further stated that Chattogram Division batsman Shahadat Hossain Dipu and Rangpur Division pacer Mushfik Hasan were on their radar at all times.

Shahadat, 21, is a right-handed middle-order hitter who made his first-class debut in 2021. He has 1,265 runs from 20 first-class games, including two hundreds and ten half-century.

Mushfik emerged onto the forefront after making his first-class debut in the 2022 season. The 20-year-old fast bowler has 49 wickets in 13 appearances, including three five-wicket hauls. Both played for Bangladesh A in the just finished unofficial T est series against West Indies A and performed admirably.

“Both of them (Shahadat and Musfik) have been with us from the Under-19 level and they were also part of the High Performance Unit so they were always in our radar. We are confident if they get a chance they will do well, ”Minhajul said.

Shadman Islam and Rezaur Rahman were not selected for the squad, however Taskin Ahmed and Zakir Hasan were.

Bangladesh included Taskin Ahmed despite the fact that the pace bowler recently underwent rehabilitation for a side strain that kept him out of the Test series against Ireland as well as the three ODIs.

SQUAD

Litton Kumer Das (Captain), Tamim IqbalZakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque Showrab, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mushfik Hasan.