Bangladesh call up Anamul, Tanvir in squad for second Zimbabwe Test

Zakir Hasan has been dropped without featuring in the first Test

Bangladesh selectors have recalled top-order batter Anamul Haque for the squad for the second Zimbabwe Test after he produced prolific knocks in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League and National Cricket League.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Tanvir Islam also earned his maiden call-up in the illustrious format for the Chattogram encounter, slated to begin Monday, Apr 28.

Zakir Hasan, who did not feature in the Sylhet Test, was dropped while fast bowler Nahid Rana was left out as well. Rana will join the Pakistan Super League.

Tanvir’s inclusion in the squad swells the number of spinners to four, hinting at the probable nature of the Chattogram track. The 28-year-old bowler played four T20s in national colours.

He played 41 first-class matches, snaring 134 wickets. He grabbed 5-fors six times with best figures of 8 for 51, though his last national league outing was less than impressive with 15 wickets in 7 matches.

Anamul finds his way back in Test whites after almost a gap of three years. The wicketkeeper-batsman last played a Test against the West Indies in 2022, scoring 23 and 4 only.

The right-handed batter made his Test debut in 2013 but has been an occasional selection in the format. He played only 5 games in nine years and scored only 100 runs in 10 innings with a top score of 23.

The 32-year-old is playing for Gazi Group Cricketers in the Dhaka Premier League this season and scored 4 fifties and as many centuries in 14 innings on his way to 874 runs. No other batsman in the competition has yet scored 700 this season.

He was also on song in red-ball cricket, scoring a ton and six half-centuries for 700 runs in 13 innings for Khulna in the last national league. Only Amite Hasan (785) had scored more than him in that edition.

On Wednesday, Bangladesh lost the first Test by 3 wickets as Zimbabwe earned their first win in the format in over four years, sealing their highest-ever successful second-innings chasing.

Bangladesh produced a tame show with the bat, collapsing in key moments in both innings and proving to be vulnerable against short balls and late movement.

On the selection of Anamul, Chief Selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said: “[Anamul] Bijoy was always in our [selection] process, always on our mind. We’ve been following the procedure of playing them in the A team first. In that trend, Bijoy was on the tour against Pakistan A last year.”

Anamul, however, failed to make a mark in the tour, scoring only 18 in three innings of the two rain-hit matches. But that did not stop the selectors from roping him into the team as the chief selector was happy to have someone in form.

“We tried to give enough time to those who we put our faith in before dropping them and tried to ensure that they [poor performers] are left out right after the game. So we announced a squad for one Test [for the first game].”

“The failure of the [openers] made way for an opportunity. Besides, Bijoy is always in form in domestic cricket. We always struggle with [finding players in] form. But some cricketers are exceptions this time.”

Ashraf highlighted that Anamul often showcases the ability to play lengthy innings in domestic matches.

“Bijoy is playing very confidently now. We see the temperament we want in a Test opener. After this series, we will select him for matches against New Zealand A. He’s been out of the national team for a long time. He hasn’t faced strong opposition [in the meantime]. That is also one of the reasons to retrieve him to the team.”

Squad:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque, Moninul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Jaker Ali, Medidy Hasan Miran (vice-captain), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan.