Veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak was recalled after over three years to the Bangladesh Test side as additional cover for the injured Shakib Al Hasan, the selectors announced on Sunday (January 28). In the last three years, Razzak was overlooked across formats.
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The recall could have been on the back of Razzak recently becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to take 500 first-class wickets, leading this season’s wicket-takers’ list with 40 scalps in nine matches. As a result, the 35-year-old has been drafted in despite having a modest Test record where he has picked up 23 wickets in 12 Tests.
Hours after Shakib had injured his left little finger during the tri-series final, the selectors decided to include left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam and allrounder Tanbir Hayder on Saturday evenin, which meant that Razzak’s addition that the squad made it a 16-man one.
In Shakib’s absence, Bangladesh will be led by Mahmudullah. The first Test begins in Chittagong on January 31.
Squad for first Test
Mahmudullah (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mosaddek Hossain, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Kamrul Islam, Mehidy Hassan, Rubel Hossain, Nayeem Hasan, Sunzamul Islam, Tanbir Hayder, Abdur Razzak.
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