Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat first against New Zealand in the opening Test of the two-match series today at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, with batsman Shahadat Hossain Dipu making his Test debut.
The Tigers have deployed a spin-heavy attack, with Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, and Taijul Islam in the eleven, and Shoriful Islam as the lone pacer.
Nurul Hasan, the wicketkeeper, returns to the Test team and will keep the wickets in the absence of Liton Das, who is currently on leave for family reasons.
The visitors, on the other hand, have three spin bowling options in Ish Sodhi, Ajaz Patel, and part-timer Glenn Philips in their eleven. Rachin Ravindra, New Zealand’s World Cup breakthrough hero in India, has been left out of the Test squad.
With the match, both teams will begin their campaigns in the ICC World Test Championship cycle 2023-25.
Bangladesh is led by Najmul Hossain Shanto in place of the injured Shakib Al Hasan. He is the Tigers’ 13th Test captain.
This is also the first time the two sides have met on Bangladeshi soil in almost a decade.
Bangladesh: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Shahadat Hossain (wk), Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Sh
Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (c), Ajaz Patel for New Zealand