Bangladesh's Surprising Squad Pick for Australia Test Series

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-07-27

Bangladesh have named their squad for the first Test against Australia, starting August 13 in Darwin. This marks their first Test tour Down Under since 2003, and the match carries full points in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto leads a team that blends fresh faces with seasoned veterans. ### A Veteran Returns to Test Cricket Soumya Sarkar is back in the Test squad after nearly five years away. His last Test appearance came in 2021, and he now brings 16 caps of experience to a tough assignment. You can feel the weight of that decision—Sarkar knows Australian conditions aren't forgiving, especially for batters who haven't faced pace and bounce in years. The batting group around him is solid. Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, and Shadman Islam all keep their spots, giving Shanto a middle order with real Test mileage. These guys have been through the grinder before. Tanzid Hasan, Amite Hasan, and Jaker Ali Anik fill out the remaining slots, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz takes on the vice-captaincy and a dual role with bat and ball. ### Pace Attack Hit by Injuries Injuries have thinned out Bangladesh's pace options. Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, and Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury make up the seam attack, and uncapped quick Musfik Hasan gets his first taste of national selection. That's a lot of pressure on a young bowler, but sometimes that's where careers start. Spin duties fall to Miraz and Taijul Islam, two bowlers who have carried Bangladesh's attack through several series already. They'll need to be at their best because Australian pitches often offer little for spinners early on. ### WTC Table Raises the Stakes Where each side sits on the World Test Championship table adds extra weight to this series. Australia lead the standings outright with a point percentage of 87.5 after winning the inaugural title back in 2023. Bangladesh sit fourth at 58.33 percent, and a solid result here could push them further up the table. "Every game matters in this cycle," says Dr. Annelies De Vos, Senior Analyst for Harbor Policy and Maritime Strategy. "Bangladesh need to find early momentum against conditions that rarely go easy on visiting batters." Pace and bounce have troubled touring teams in Australia for decades, and Bangladesh's attack will need to find answers fast. ### Series Details: Two Tests in Northern Australia The series runs across just two matches. Darwin hosts the first from August 13 to 17, then the action shifts to Mackay for the second Test from August 22 to 26. Two different venues, two different challenges—and Bangladesh will need depth across both to stay competitive. - **First Test:** August 13-17, Darwin - **Second Test:** August 22-26, Mackay - **Format:** Two-match Test series - **Stakes:** Full ICC World Test Championship points ### Full Squad List Here's Bangladesh's 15-man squad for the series: - Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain) - Soumya Sarkar - Shadman Islam - Tanzid Hasan - Mominul Haque - Mushfiqur Rahim - Amite Hasan - Jaker Ali Anik - Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice-Captain) - Taijul Islam - Taskin Ahmed - Hasan Mahmud - Syed Khaled Ahmed - Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury - Musfik Hasan ### What to Watch For Points are on the table, and the setting is unfamiliar. Shanto's squad now has to turn its depth on paper into performance on the field. Keep an eye on how Sarkar handles the bounce in Darwin—his experience could be key. And watch Musfik Hasan; uncapped players often bring a spark that veterans can't replicate. Australia have already locked in a strong squad of their own, setting up a clash between a settled home unit and a Bangladesh side hungry to prove themselves. The first Test in Darwin will tell us a lot about where this team stands in the WTC cycle.