Pacer Taskin Ahmed has been recalled to the Bangladesh Test squad for the first match against West Indies, which begins at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on October 28. The right-arm pacer was rested for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, a match that ended in a draw. He has now replaced Khaled Ahmed in the 15-man squad captained by Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Alongside Taskin, the pace attack includes Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain and Hasan Mahmud. Nahid Rana continues to miss out as he recovers from a side strain. The spin department has three specialists in Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan.
Soumya Sarkar has also been left out of the squad. Soumya did not feature in the playing XI against Afghanistan and has not played a Test match since February 2021, which was his 16th appearance in the format. He had, however, been included in the squads for the Tests in Australia in August and against Afghanistan.
Which players return from injury for this Test?
Litton Das has been included after missing the ODI tri-series in the UAE due to a hip injury. Bangladesh failed to make the title round of that tournament. Litton's return adds experience to the wicketkeeping and batting department.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz is also in the squad after recovering sufficiently from a viral fever. He missed Bangladesh's first match of the UAE tri-series but returned for the next game. His inclusion strengthens the spin options available to the team in home conditions.
Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali continue to hold their places in the batting line-up. Hridoy was part of the Afghanistan Test squad but did not get into the playing XI. He recently scored a first-class triple hundred in South Africa. Jaker last played a Test in June 2025.
What is the match and series context heading into the Dhaka Test?
The first Test against West Indies starts in Dhaka on October 28, with the second Test scheduled in Sylhet from November 5. Bangladesh will be playing at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, where they hosted Pakistan in May. That match was played on a sporting pitch, went to the fifth day, and Bangladesh won by 104 runs. Mehidy and Rana both picked up five-wicket hauls in that game.
The pitch preparation for the West Indies Test will be closely watched, given that Bangladesh have three specialist spinners and four pace options in the squad. The last Dhaka Test showed the surface can assist both types of bowling across five days.
Bangladesh squad for first Test against West Indies:
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed, Jaker Ali, Litton Das (wk), Mominul Haque, Tanzid Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Tawhid Hridoy, Shadman Islam, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nayeem Hasan.
