Hridoy gets another Test chance as Taskin sits out

Towhid Hridoy has been handed another chance to establish himself in Test cricket, while Bangladesh have opted to rest Taskin Ahmed for next month's one-off Test against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates.

Hridoy returns to the 15-member squad after producing a record-breaking 350 not out for Bangladesh A against South Africa A in Potchefstroom earlier this month. The innings, the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi in first-class cricket, came after he had been left out of the squad for the tour of Australia.

The 24-year-old made his Test debut against Zimbabwe earlier this year but failed to make a major impact and subsequently lost his place. His extraordinary response in South Africa has now earned him another opportunity in the longest format.

Taskin, meanwhile, has been left out as part of Bangladesh's workload management plan. Chief selector Habibul Bashar said the team wanted the experienced pacer fully available for the upcoming World Test Championship matches against West Indies.

"Obviously, we are prioritising our WTC Test matches," Bashar said. "We want to have him fully available for the West Indies Test matches, so he has not been included in this Test."

Nahid Rana is also unavailable for the Afghanistan match as he will only be available from October 10, a day after the Test begins.

The absence of Taskin and Nahid gives Bangladesh's other fast bowlers an opportunity to strengthen their claims. Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam are the four specialist pacers in the squad.

Hridoy's return also adds another dimension to Bangladesh's middle order. His ability to contribute with the bat after a massive first-class innings has given the selectors a reason to revisit a player who was unable to make an immediate impact on his first Test opportunity.

Bangladesh will face Afghanistan in the one-off Test from October 9 in the UAE. With the match outside the WTC cycle, the selectors have used it both to manage key players and to examine other options.

For Hridoy, however, the match offers something more personal: a second chance to show that his Test career can develop beyond an encouraging debut.