Bangladesh name 15-member squad for West Indies Tests; Taskin Ahmed returns

Bangladesh name 15-member squad for West Indies Tests; Taskin Ahmed returns

Bangladesh Name 15-Member Squad for First West Indies Test

Bangladesh have announced a 15-player squad for the opening Test against the West Indies, with fast bowler Taskin Ahmed and wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das returning to the side. The match begins on October 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, where the hosts will look to make home conditions count in the opening game of the two-Test series.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead Bangladesh, with all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz serving as vice-captain. The series carries important points for both teams in the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Bangladesh sit fourth in the early standings and will be keen to build momentum with a strong performance on home soil.

Taskin Ahmed Returns to the Test Attack

Taskin’s inclusion is one of the headline changes in the squad. The right-arm quick missed Bangladesh’s one-off Test against Afghanistan earlier this month but is now back in contention for the West Indies series. He replaces Khaled Ahmed, who has not been selected after featuring in the previous Test assignment.

Taskin joins Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain and left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam in a four-man pace group. The combination gives Bangladesh several options: Taskin brings speed and experience, while Shoriful offers a left-arm angle that can help vary the attack. Hasan and Ebadot add further seam-bowling depth for a series in which the conditions may change as the match progresses.

Nahid Rana remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a longstanding injury. His absence removes another promising fast-bowling option, making the fitness and workload of the selected pace attack an important factor during the opening Test.

Litton Das Fit, While Soumya Sarkar Misses Out

Litton Das has been declared fit after missing Bangladesh’s recent tri-nation white-ball series in the United Arab Emirates because of a hip bone injury. His return strengthens the squad in two areas: he is an experienced wicketkeeping option and a batter capable of adding fluency to the middle order.

Jaker Ali Anik has also been selected as the reserve wicketkeeper. He has been building leadership experience as captain of the BCB XI in a two-day warm-up match against the touring West Indies side. That preparation gives the squad another opportunity to assess players in conditions close to those expected in the Test series.

Soumya Sarkar, who was involved in the recent Test assignment against Afghanistan, has been left out. His omission opens a place in the squad for a group that includes experienced campaigners Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque, as well as Tawhid Hridoy.

Opening Options and Spin Balance

Shadman Islam and Tanzid Hasan are the specialist opening batters named in the squad. Their selection gives Bangladesh a left-right combination to consider at the top of the order, though the final pairing will depend on form, match preparation and the team’s assessment of the pitch.

Bangladesh’s batting group blends experience with players looking to establish themselves in the Test side. Mushfiqur and Mominul bring substantial international experience, while Shanto will be central to the team’s plans as captain and a key top-order batter. Litton’s availability adds flexibility, and Hridoy provides another option in the middle order.

Spin is expected to play a major role in Mirpur, where the surface may offer assistance as the match wears on. Mehidy is set to lead the spin resources alongside left-arm orthodox bowler Taijul Islam and off-spinner Nayeem Hasan. The three specialist options give Shanto a varied attack, with Mehidy also contributing as an all-rounder.

Nayeem’s selection is notable because he was initially named as a reserve for the Afghanistan Test before earning promotion to the main group. His inclusion gives Bangladesh another specialist off-spinner and could prove useful if the pitch favours slow bowling or if the quicks need support during long spells.

Prediction: Bangladesh Will Look to Use Home Conditions

Any prediction for the first Test must account for the uncertainty of a series opener. Bangladesh have a balanced squad, familiar conditions and a mix of experienced batters, seamers and spin options. Those factors could help the hosts control the tempo, particularly if their top order builds a solid first-innings total and the spinners find consistent turn.

The West Indies, however, will present a significant challenge. The visitors will aim to disrupt Bangladesh’s plans with disciplined batting and an attacking approach, while the touring side’s performance in the warm-up match may offer useful clues about combinations and readiness. For Bangladesh, the key questions will include how quickly Taskin settles back into Test cricket, whether Litton is fully match-ready and how effectively the batting unit handles pressure.

Rather than relying on a single standout player, Bangladesh’s strongest route to a positive result may be collective: partnerships at the top, support for Shanto in the middle order, and sustained pressure from a varied bowling attack. The Mirpur pitch and conditions will influence the balance between pace and spin, so the final playing XI could be shaped by the surface on match day.

First Test Schedule and Bangladesh Squad

The first Test is scheduled to run from October 28 to November 1 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The teams will then travel to Sylhet for the second Test, which is due to begin on November 5 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. A strong start in Mirpur would give Bangladesh a valuable opportunity to gain WTC points and carry confidence into the series finale.

Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Hasan Mahmud, Jaker Ali Anik, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vice-captain), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nayeem Hasan, Shadman Islam, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Taskin Ahmed and Tawhid Hridoy.

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