Litton included in Bangladesh squad for 1st Australia Test

Wicket-keeper batter Litton Das has been included in the Bangladesh squad for the first Test against Australia, scheduled to begin in Darwin on August 13.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said that he was included in the squad following progress in his recovery from a left calf injury.

An important cog of the team Litton sustained the injury during the ODI series against Australia in June. Although he was included in the squads for the subsequent T20I series against Australia and the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, he was unable to take the field.

The wicketkeeper-batter later underwent treatment in Singapore, with BCB initially saying his return would depend on the outcome of a fitness assessment scheduled for August 12. Bangladesh subsequently announced its squad for the first Test without Litton. He has also resumed batting as part of his recovery.

"The 31-year-old batsman has been sidelined since June due to the injury, but has responded well to his rehabilitation programme and will be in consideration for selection for the opening Test," the BCB said in a press release on Saturday.

Litton, who is also the captain of Bangladesh's ODI and T20 format will fly to Darwin on Sunday to join the squad.

Bangladesh, however, continue to grapple with injuries in their pace attack. Fast bowler Nahid Rana has been ruled out of the entire series with a side strain, while left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam will miss the first Test because of injury.

Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque Showrab, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice Captain), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Musfik Hasan, Litton Das.    �"BSS