Phil Simmons has left the door open for a Test debut against Pakistan, telling reporters on Wednesday that Bangladesh’s final XI remains undecided as the side returns to red-ball cricket.
The selectors added Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Amite Hasan to the 15-man squad. Tanzid moves across from the white-ball group. Amite Hasan arrives as a fresh face in the senior set-up.
“It’s good to have young players come in. It’s good to have new players come into the squad. Tomorrow we sit and we decide what the final 11 will be. So there’s always that chance that somebody could make their debut. As of now, nothing’s been decided finally yet,” Simmons said.
Najmul Hossain Shanto leads the squad. The batting group includes Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque Sourav, Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Kumar Das. The bowling options feature Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana.
Simmons also backed Mohammad Salahuddin’s move to the BCB High Performance unit. The senior assistant coach will step away at the end of the Pakistan series and take over as head coach of the HP programme from next season, after discussing the switch with board president Tamim Iqbal.
“My thoughts is that it could only help Bangladesh cricket with him being in charge there and knowing exactly what we want to do up here. So he will try and make sure that that is implemented below us, and that’s what you need to have that progression and have that line between from under-19 go up to national team. So I could only see it being a benefit for us,” Simmons said.
The HP unit begins a packed home and overseas calendar in June with a series against Zimbabwe A.
