Litton Das Returns as Bangladesh Name Squad for First WTC Test Against Australia

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-08-02

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially called up experienced wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das for the upcoming two-match Test series against Australia. This series is a crucial part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, and Litton will fly to Darwin on Sunday to join his teammates as they prepare for the opening match on August 13. ### Litton Das Recovers from Injury to Boost Top Order Litton Das returns to the national team after several months off the field. He suffered a left calf muscle injury in June during a home One Day International (ODI) series against Australia. That injury forced him to miss the recent all-format tour of Zimbabwe. However, the BCB has confirmed that the batter is now fit enough for consideration in the starting eleven for the first Test. Earlier this year, the 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman played a massive role in Bangladesh's success against Pakistan. He scored 126 runs and followed it with a 69 in the same match. His return adds much-needed stability to a top order that has struggled against pace and bounce in overseas conditions. ### Bangladesh Squad Facing Significant Injury Challenges Despite the good news, Bangladesh still faces several hurdles. The team is currently short of fast bowlers due to recent injuries. Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam are not available for this tour. The team is also waiting for an update about the fitness of other key bowlers such as Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mustafizur Rahim. Selectors have included Soumya Sarkar for more depth due to these injuries. The current squad has a lot of young players, with 10 players having played 10 or fewer Test matches. This mix of youth and experience will be led by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto against the world's number one-ranked Test team. **Official Bangladesh Test Squad for Australia Series:** Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice Captain), Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Musfik Hasan. ### World Test Championship Standings and Series Significance Bangladesh sits in fourth position in the World Test Championship standings with a points percentage (PCT) of 58.33. Australia, meanwhile, tops the table. Australia heads into this series following a dominant 4-1 Ashes victory over England. This tour is a huge milestone for Bangladesh cricket. It's their first Test tour of Australia since 2003, ending a 23-year wait for a red-ball series in the country. These two teams last met in a Test series in 2017 when Australia visited Bangladesh. ### Adapting to Unfamiliar Australian Conditions Here's a quick look at the schedule for this historic tour: - **6-8 August**: 3-day Match vs Cricket Australia XI, DXC Arena, Darwin - **13-17 August**: First Test, Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin - **22-26 August**: Second Test, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay The first Test will take place in the Darwin heat, followed by the second Test in Mackay. Darwin's TIO Stadium features seamer-friendly conditions that usually favor fast bowlers. The bounce and pace of Australian tracks are very different from the slow, turning pitches in South Asia. Selectors have expressed concern about how the batting line-up will handle the pace of bowlers like Pat Cummins. The key will be adapting quickly to the extra bounce and lateral movement. Bangladesh's young batters will need to show discipline outside off stump and trust their defensive techniques. For more cricket news and updates, follow the JeetWin Blog.