Khaled Ahmed and Taskin Ahmed (Photo Source: BCB)
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has released the squad for the second Test between Bangladesh and South Africa which is scheduled to get underway at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on October 29, 2024. There has been one change made in the roster, with Khaled Ahmed being brought into the mix instead of Taskin Ahmed.
A selector of the BCB, former opening batter Hannan Sarkar, insisted that it was Taskin’s workload that the team management had opted to prioritize.
“Taskin hasn’t been dropped. We have a long list of international matches coming up in the next few months. The break will give him some time to rest and he can also start preparing for the upcoming series,” stated Sarkar, as quoted by The Daily Star.
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Taskin was left out of the first Test as Bangladesh went ahead with Hasan Mahmud, who was the only pacer in the playing XI alongside a triad of spinners. Meanwhile, Khalil, who was representing Sylhet Division in the National Cricket League starred with a four-wicket haul against his name. He was dropped from the first Test which Bangladesh lost by a seven-wicket margin due to a lukewarm display with the ball during the Kanpur Test against India.
The Bangladeshi squad will be heading to Chattogram on October 26 for the final game of the series and would be keen on leveling up their game in the lead-up to a crammed schedule of international cricket lying ahead. The series against the Proteas is followed by a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. They don’t have a lot of layover time between the series against the Afghans and their all-format tour to the Caribbean to wrap off a chaotic itinerary for this year.
Bangladesh’s squad for second Test against South Africa: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Jaker Ali, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Hasan Murad, Khaled Ahmed.