Ebadot Hossain to miss Bangladesh's Australia Test series for child's birth
Synopsis
Bangladesh's pace attack faces a pre-tour squeeze: Ebadot Hossain is out for the birth of his first child, Nahid Rana's fitness is unresolved, and Litton Das is nursing a calf injury — all ahead of a World Test Championship assignment in Australia starting 13 August. Taskin Ahmed's LPL pullout is the one bright spot in an otherwise uncertain selection picture.
Key Takeaways
Ebadot Hossain will miss the two-Test series against Australia to be present for the birth of his first child.
The series is part of the World Test Championship and begins in Darwin on 13 August .
Taskin Ahmed , 31 , has withdrawn from the Lankan Premier League (Jaffna Kings) to focus on Australia tour preparation.
Fast bowler Nahid Rana is awaiting scan results; his availability for the first Test is uncertain.
Batter Litton Das is managing a calf complaint ahead of the tour.
Bangladesh will play a three-day warm-up against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin from 3 August .
Bangladesh fast bowler Ebadot Hossain will miss the two-match Test series against Australia next month, with the pacer set to stay home to welcome his first child. The series, part of the ongoing World Test Championship, begins in Darwin on 13 August and represents a significant challenge for a Bangladesh pace attack already managing fitness concerns.
Taskin Ahmed Withdraws from LPL to Focus on Australia
Offsetting the Ebadot news, pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed has pulled out of the Lankan Premier League (LPL) — where he was contracted to play for the Jaffna Kings — to dedicate himself fully to Australia tour preparation. The 31-year-old cited the rarity of a Test assignment in Australia as the driving factor behind his decision.
'Yeah it is mainly for preparation (for the Australia tour),' Taskin told The Daily Sun. 'We played six back-to-back matches in Zimbabwe; maybe I would have gotten four matches there (in LPL) after my stint there if I returned home and immediately gone to Australia; my Test match preparation would be hampered; despite a little loss, I thought it was okay. The Australia series won't come around often; that's why I took the decision, even after having the NOC, so I pulled out from the LPL.'
Nahid Rana and Litton Das Fitness Remain Uncertain
Bangladesh are still awaiting scan results on fast bowler Nahid Rana, whose availability for the opening Test remains uncertain. The team are also hopeful that experienced batter Litton Das will recover from a calf complaint in time to feature in the series.
Notably, the fitness of both Rana and Das adds a layer of unpredictability to Bangladesh's pace and batting combinations ahead of what is widely regarded as one of their toughest overseas assignments.
Early Arrival and Warm-Up Fixture Planned
Bangladesh are scheduled to arrive in Australia at the start of August, roughly 10–12 days before the first Test. They will play a three-day warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin from 3 August, giving the squad valuable acclimatisation time.
Batting coach Mohammad Ashraful expressed cautious optimism about the preparation window. 'It will be tough in Australia, but the positive is that we will travel there early...10–12 days in advance,' Ashraful said. 'We will have the opportunity to play a three-day practice match, and hopefully, if all our players are fit, we will be able to perform well there.'
What This Means for Bangladesh's Pace Attack
With Ebadot unavailable and Rana's fitness unconfirmed, Bangladesh's fast-bowling resources heading into the Darwin Test look stretched. Taskin's commitment to full preparation is a positive signal, but the side will need clarity on their pace contingent before the first ball is bowled. The two-Test series carries World Test Championship points, making every selection decision consequential for Bangladesh's long-term cycle standings.
Point of View
And the Darwin Tests are arriving at the worst possible moment. Losing Ebadot to personal reasons is understandable, but combined with Rana's fitness cloud and the lingering Litton Das concern, the side risks going into a high-stakes WTC assignment without its first-choice combinations. Taskin's LPL withdrawal shows commendable prioritisation, but one fit spearhead does not paper over a thin pace unit. The three-day warm-up is a practical buffer, yet Australian conditions — especially pace and bounce in Darwin — demand more than acclimatisation time; they demand a settled attack. Bangladesh's team management will need to make some hard calls quickly.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ebadot Hossain missing the Australia Test series?
Ebadot Hossain is missing the two-Test series against Australia to be present for the birth of his first child. The series begins in Darwin on 13 August as part of the World Test Championship.
Why did Taskin Ahmed withdraw from the Lankan Premier League?
Taskin Ahmed pulled out of the LPL, where he was set to play for the Jaffna Kings, to focus entirely on preparing for the Bangladesh vs Australia Test series. He cited the rarity of a Test tour to Australia as the key reason, saying the opportunity 'won't come around often.'
Is Nahid Rana fit for the Australia tour?
Nahid Rana's fitness remains uncertain as Bangladesh are still awaiting the results of scans on the fast bowler. It is unclear whether he will be available for the opening Test in Darwin on 13 August.
When does Bangladesh's Australia tour begin?
Bangladesh are scheduled to arrive in Australia at the start of August, with a three-day warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin from 3 August. The first Test begins on 13 August in Darwin.
What did batting coach Mohammad Ashraful say about the Australia tour?
Ashraful expressed cautious optimism, noting that Bangladesh's early arrival — 10 to 12 days before the first Test — and the three-day practice fixture give the squad a meaningful preparation window. He said the team could 'perform well there' if all players are fit.
