Taskin back, Nahid out as Bangladesh name West Indies Test squad

Bangladesh have recalled fast bowler Taskin Ahmed to their 15-member squad for the opening Test against West Indies, while Nahid Rana has been ruled out as he continues his recovery from a longstanding injury.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the squad on Friday, with Najmul Hossain Shanto retaining the captaincy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz named vice-captain for the two-match series, which forms part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Taskin returns after missing Bangladesh's one-off Test against Afghanistan earlier this month. He replaces Khaled Ahmed, who has been left out, while opener Soumya Sarkar has also been omitted from the squad.

Nahid is currently in Australia for an assessment of his injury and is unlikely to return for the second Test as well. His absence leaves Bangladesh without one of their leading pace options for the opening match.

Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das, meanwhile, is back in the squad after missing Bangladesh's recent tri-nation ODI series in the United Arab Emirates because of a hip bone injury.

The pace attack comprises Taskin, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam. Bangladesh have also included three specialist spin options in Taijul Islam, Mehidy and Nayeem Hasan.

The batting unit features Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton and Towhid Hridoy, with Jaker Ali providing another wicketkeeping option.

Bangladesh will begin the series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on October 28, before the second Test starts in Sylhet on November 5.

The squad announcement came after the visiting West Indies completed a two-day warm-up match against a BCB XI in Dhaka. The match ended in a draw, with the visitors reaching 336 for six in response to the home side's 371 for seven.
The practice match offered the touring side valuable time in the middle ahead of the Test series, while Bangladesh will now focus on final preparations for the opening encounter.