Bangladesh recall Taskin, Nahid, Mustafizur for Australia T20Is; Hridoy gets Test debut call
Synopsis
Bangladesh's selectors have made two bold calls at once: restoring their full-strength pace trio for a high-stakes T20I series against Australia, while simultaneously handing Towhid Hridoy — 111 white-ball caps but zero Tests — his first shot at the longest format against Zimbabwe. The twin moves reveal a BCB that is managing present-day results and future planning in the same breath.
Key Takeaways
Taskin Ahmed , Nahid Rana , and Mustafizur Rahman recalled to Bangladesh's T20I squad for the three-match series vs Australia in Chattogram ( 17, 19, 21 June ).
Towhid Hridoy earns his maiden Test squad call-up for the one-off Test vs Zimbabwe in Harare starting 28 June , despite having played 52 ODIs and 59 T20Is with no prior Test appearance.
Hridoy also named T20I vice-captain under Litton Kumar Das after Saif Hassan stepped down from the role.
Uncapped domestic pacer Robiul Haque — 107 wickets and 620 runs in 32 first-class matches — included in the Test squad.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz , Shoriful Islam , Taskin , and Nahid Rana rested from the Zimbabwe Test for workload management.
Bangladesh have announced separate squads for their upcoming series against Australia and Zimbabwe, recalling pace trio Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, and Mustafizur Rahman for the three-match T20I series in Chattogram while handing aggressive middle-order batter Towhid Hridoy his maiden Test squad call-up for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) unveiled both squads on 11 June, signalling a dual focus on immediate competitiveness and longer-format development.
Pace Trio Returns for Australia T20Is
The headline move in the T20I squad is the restoration of Bangladesh's frontline pace attack. Taskin and Nahid Rana were rested for the previous T20I series against New Zealand, and their return alongside Mustafizur Rahman substantially reinforces the seam-bowling department ahead of a stiff Australian challenge. The three quicks are widely regarded as Bangladesh's most potent fast-bowling combination in white-ball cricket.
Their recall has come at the cost of several seamers who featured against New Zealand. Tanzim Hasan Shakib, Ripon Mondol, and Mohammad Saifuddin have all been dropped as selectors reverted to their preferred first-choice attack. Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, who was in the New Zealand squad without earning a cap, retains his place.
Hridoy's Long-Awaited Test Call-Up
The most significant development away from the T20 format is Towhid Hridoy's inclusion in Bangladesh's 15-member Test squad for the Zimbabwe encounter. Hridoy has accumulated considerable white-ball experience since his international debut in 2023 — appearing in 52 ODIs and 59 T20Is — but has yet to represent Bangladesh in the longest format. His first-class record of three centuries in 16 appearances was sufficient to convince selectors despite relatively limited red-ball exposure.
Selectors are reportedly looking to inject greater attacking intent into Bangladesh's Test batting line-up, and Hridoy's aggressive style fits that brief. This comes amid a broader effort by the BCB to identify all-format options for a packed international calendar ahead.
Hridoy Also Named T20I Vice-Captain
Chief selector Habibul Bashar confirmed that Hridoy will serve as vice-captain in the T20I setup under captain Litton Kumar Das. The role became available after Saif Hassan stepped down from the vice-captaincy to concentrate on his own batting form — a move Bashar described as a personal decision by Hassan.
Uncapped Robiul Haque in Test Mix
The Zimbabwe Test squad also features uncapped medium-pacer Robiul Haque, who has impressed on the domestic circuit with 107 wickets and 620 runs in 32 first-class matches. Team management views Robiul as a potential pace-bowling all-rounder for the future. Experienced seamer Khaled Ahmed has also been recalled to the red-ball setup.
Notably, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, and Nahid Rana have been rested from the Zimbabwe Test as part of a workload-management rotation across the busy schedule.
Fixtures and What Comes Next
Bangladesh's T20I series against Australia is scheduled for 17, 19, and 21 June in Chattogram. The Test contingent departs for Zimbabwe on 23 June, with the one-off Test in Harare beginning on 28 June. With their pace attack restored and a fresh Test face in the mix, Bangladesh's dual-track squad strategy will face its first real examination over the fortnight ahead.
T20I squad vs Australia: Litton Kumar Das (c), Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Saif Hassan, Shamim Hossain, Towhid Hridoy (vc), Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain.
Test squad vs Zimbabwe: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Kumar Das, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Towhid Hridoy, Amite Hasan, Robiul Haque.
Point of View
His elevation is overdue — but the Zimbabwe fixture, a single low-stakes away Test, is a carefully managed debut environment. The BCB deserves credit for not rushing him into a high-pressure series. The bigger question is whether Robiul Haque's inclusion signals a genuine commitment to developing a pace-bowling all-rounder, or whether it is the kind of one-series experiment that Bangladesh selectors have a habit of abandoning. With Australia arriving for T20Is and a packed calendar ahead, the next six weeks will test the depth of both squads — and the BCB's stated intent to rotate without losing results.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, and Mustafizur Rahman recalled to Bangladesh's T20I squad?
The three fast bowlers were recalled to strengthen Bangladesh's pace attack for the T20I series against Australia, scheduled for 17, 19, and 21 June in Chattogram. Taskin and Nahid Rana had been rested for the previous T20I series against New Zealand, and selectors opted to restore their first-choice attack for the more demanding Australian challenge.
Why is Towhid Hridoy's Test call-up significant?
Hridoy has played 52 ODIs and 59 T20Is since his 2023 debut but has never appeared in a Test match, making this his first call-up to Bangladesh's red-ball squad. Selectors cited his attacking batting style and three centuries in 16 first-class appearances as reasons for the inclusion.
Who is Towhid Hridoy's T20I vice-captaincy replacing?
Saif Hassan stepped down from the T20I vice-captaincy to focus on his own batting performances. Chief selector Habibul Bashar confirmed Hridoy as his replacement under captain Litton Kumar Das.
Who is Robiul Haque and why has he been included in the Test squad?
Robiul Haque is an uncapped medium-pacer who has taken 107 wickets and scored 620 runs in 32 first-class matches on the domestic circuit. The BCB views him as a potential pace-bowling all-rounder and has included him in the 15-member Test squad for the Zimbabwe fixture beginning 28 June in Harare.
Which players have been rested from the Zimbabwe Test?
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, and Nahid Rana have all been left out of the Zimbabwe Test squad as part of Bangladesh's workload-management rotation across a busy international schedule.
