Bangladesh pick 17-year-old spinner in Test squad

Cricket365
January 26, 2018

Bangladesh have picked uncapped spinner, Nayeem Hasan, in their squad for the for the upcoming two-match Test series at home against Sri Lanka.

The 17-year-old Nayeem is currently playing at the U19 World Cup in New Zealand but will fly home to join the squad immediately after Bangladesh were knocked out in the quarter-final by India on Friday.

The young tweaker is a surprise selection as he has only played four first-class games, picking up nine wickets at an average of more than 62.

Tigers chief selector Minhajul Abedin told ESPNcricinfo: “Nayeem is a talented bowler and since we wanted an additional offspinner, we picked him.

“He is a good option. He is coming back from New Zealand since we lost to India.”

Other changes from the tour to South Africa late last year see allrounder Shakib Al Hasan return to the squad as captain after he was rested while Mosaddek Hossain and Kamrul Islam were also recalled.

Batsmen Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman as well pace bowlers Subashis Roy, Shafiul Islam and Taskin Ahmed have been dropped from the squad that lost heavily in both Tests in South Africa.

The first Test against Sri Lanka will start in Chittagong on Wednesday followed by the final game of the series in Mirpur from 8 February.

Bangladesh Test squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mahmudullah (vice-capt), Tamim Iqbal, Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mosaddek Hossain, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Kamrul Islam, Mehidy Hassan, Rubel Hossain, Nayeem Hasan