UNB, Khulna :
Touring Pakistan and host Bangladesh practiced hard on Sunday at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna ahead of the First Test beginning here on Tuesday (Apr 28).
Pakistan team, led by Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, worked three-and-half hours on their batting, bowling and catching at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium from 9 am to 12:30 pm while Musfiqur Rahim-led Bangladesh Test team worked especially hard on their batting at the same venue in the afternoon.
After the day’s practice session, Pakistani batsman Sami Aslam taking to the newsmen said, they are now the number four team in test cricket and they will take to the field to maintain their consistent performance in Test cricket.
Terming Bangladesh a good side, Sami said Test cricket is completely different from the ODI and T20 formats, and they are hopeful of giving one hundred percent in the series.
Before the practice session, Bangladesh all rounder Shakib Al Hasan said the morale of our team is very high after continuous successes and they are confident to display their “best in Test match”.
Regarding inclusion of three new faces in Test squad, Shakib said they entered the team proving their ability, if they are included in the best eleven then will able to prove their capability.
Two batsmen Soumya Sarkar and Litton Das, and fast bowler Mohammad Shahid have earned maiden Test call-ups for Bangladesh after they were picked for the first Test against Pakistan beginning in Khulna April 28.
Earlier, BCB chief selector Faruque Ahmed said that Shahid’s ability to bowl long spells was what had won him a place in the Test squad. He also said that that Litton’s strong domestic form and Soumya’s recent form in ODIs had helped them seal their spots.
Farque also credited spinners Taijul Islam and Jubair Hossain, who shared 28 wickets between them in the Zimbabwe Tests.
The national selectors also kept faith in Imrul Kayes, Shuvagata Hom and Shahadat Hossain, who had played in Bangladesh’s last Test series, against Zimbabwe last November.
Rubel Hossain, who was rested for the lone T20, was part of the squad. However, there was no place for opening batsman Shamsur Rahman, as well as seamers Shafiul Islam and Al-Amin Hossain.
Test squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal (vice-captain), Imrul Kayes, Litton Das, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Shuvagata Hom, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam, Jubair Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Shahadat Hossain, Mohammad Shahid
