Bangladesh pick Hridoy in Test squad, recall pace trio for Australia T20Is

Bangladesh have recalled Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana and Mustafizur Rahman for the three-match T20I series against Australia. The series will be played in Chattogram following the conclusion of the ongoing ODI leg of Australia's tour.

Meanwhile, Towhid Hridoy has earned a Test call-up after being named in Bangladesh's 15-member squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare, scheduled after the T20I series against Australia. The squad also includes uncapped pacer Robiul Haque.

Chief selector Habibul Bashar also confirmed that Hridoy will serve as vice-captain in the T20I side under Litton Kumar Das after Saif Hassan stepped down from the role to focus on his game.

While the experienced pace trio returned to the T20I setup, Tanzim Hasan Shakib, Ripon Mondol and Mohammad Saifuddin, all of whom were part of the squad against New Zealand, have been left out.

"Since the T20I series against Australia is very important, we have tried to form a formidable squad and we also kept workload management in mind. As a result, we have not included Nahid Rana for the Test series," Bashar told reporters.

"Towhid Hridoy plays white-ball cricket regularly. But the type of cricket we want to play in Test matches too, I think he can be a very good option. I have seen his first-class game. His first-class record is not bad and when he bats, he can play very impactful innings wherever he bats. So this is one of Bangladesh cricket's positive signs. Hopefully, I am very confident about him. He will do well if he gets the opportunity with the red ball," he added.

Bashar also revealed that Mehidy Hasan Miraz had opted to take a break from the Zimbabwe Test.

Bangladesh are expected to field an unchanged side for the third ODI against Australia.

T20I squad against Australia: Litton Kumar Das (captain), Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Saif Hassan, Shamim Hossain, Towhid Hridoy (vice-captain), Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain.

Test squad against Zimbabwe: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), 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.