Bangladesh call up uncapped batter Mahfijul Islam for Tests in South Africa

Bangladesh's selectors have called up uncapped batter Mahfijul Islam for the first time while bringing back Mohammad Naim for the two-match Test series in South Africa starting next week.

Mahfijul and Naim are among the leading run-getters in the ongoing National Cricket League first-class competition at home.

Mahfijul, playing for Mymesingh Division, has scored 672 runs at an average of 74.67 in five matches, scoring three centuries including a double-century against Chattogram Division. He is at No. 1 on the run-scorers' table in the tournament. He didn't score a lot of runs - 112 in four innings, including a half-century - but was impressive in patches in the Bangladesh emerging team's tour of South Africa in August this year too.

The 27-year-old Naim has played a solitary Test, against New Zealand four years ago, apart from nine ODIs and 38 T20Is. Naim has also scored a double-century and two other centuries in the National Cricket League this season, and is currently the joint-second-highest run-getter with 612 runs from seven innings.

Naim was part of the Bangladesh A side that toured South Africa in August this year but only got 72 runs in three innings with a half-century.

Naim's inclusion is because of the ankle injury to Shadman Islam, sustained while fielding on the first day of the Sylhet Test against West Indies. If not for that injury, Shadman would have been a shoo-in for selection after his century in the first Test in Dhaka.

Chief selector Habibul Bashar said that Mahfijul got his break because Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who was in line to travel, was not fit.

"We brought in [Mahfijul] Robin because we felt it was crucial to have a right-handed opener," Bashar said after announcing the squad. "It is something we had been looking for, for a while. We didn't really have anyone else ready, and we wanted to give Robin a bit more time to prepare. I believe he has proven himself; he looked very promising in first-class cricket and in the emerging team matches.

"To be honest, we had another opener in mind - Mahmudul Hasan Joy - which is why there was a slight delay in announcing the squad. Unfortunately, Joy was ruled out yesterday afternoon due to medical reasons; he is unavailable for this Test match.

"We sent Naim to South Africa [for the A series] where he looked very good. He has been batting exceptionally well in first-class cricket recently. We have seen Naim play before, but based on his performance in the recent South Africa series and his first-class form, he appears to be in great shape, which is why we've included him."

The selectors have dropped Soumya Sarkar, who was part of the Test squad in Australia and UAE (against Afghanistan) recently even though he didn't make the XI on either tour. Also left out was Nayeem Hasan, the offspinner. Quick bowler Khaled Ahmed took his place.

Bangladesh continue to be without Nahid Rana, the quick bowlers continuing his recovery from a side strain. He is currently in Perth, having seen a specialist, and is training with a local side.

The rest of the premier fast bowlers - Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain and Khaled - are all in the squad and will be expected to do the heavy lifting in conditions expected to help them.

"Nahid Rana called me from Australia yesterday. He is very optimistic about a quick return; he has already bowled at 90% intensity in Australia," Bashar said. "He might return to the country by November 15. Rana feels confident that he can return right away but since he has been dealing with an injury, we want to follow a proper procedure. We don't want to rush things with him.

"He is definitely ruled out of the Test series, and it is unlikely we will have him for the ODIs, though we will see if he might be available for the T20Is. Given the reports I'm receiving, we could potentially take a risk and include him for the ODIs, but the real question is whether we should take that risk. Regardless, I believe he will be fit for the T20Is."

The series will also take Towhid Hridoy back where he recently scored an unbeaten 350 in an 'A' game. It is the highest first-class score by an overseas batter in South Africa. And Hridoy has built on that in the ongoing Test against West Indies, scoring Bangladesh's highest individual score in the format: 242 not out.

The first Test against South Africa starts in Johannesburg on November 15 and will be followed by the second Test from November 23 in Centurion. They will also play three ODIs and as many T20Is during the tour.

Bangladesh squad for Tests in South Africa Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Naim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Mahfijul Islam