DHAKA: Bangladesh paceman Shoriful Islam will miss the two-Test series in India this month with a groin injury he suffered in Pakistan, the country’s cric­ket board said on Thursday.

Bangladesh are on a high after winning both Tests in Pakistan, where they registered their first Test series victory against their Asian rivals.

Shoriful, 23, claimed thr­ee wickets in the first test in Rawalpindi but missed the second match with the injury.

“Left-arm paceman Shor­iful Islam is still recovering from a groin injury and was unavailable for the series,” the Bangladesh Cricket Boa­rd said after naming a 16-member squad for the India tour.

Uncapped Jaker Ali Anik has been drafted in as the second wicketkeeper even though Litton Das, who smashed a match-winning century in the second test against Pakistan, is set to retain the keeping gloves.

The first Test in Chennai begins on Sept. 19, while the second match is scheduled in Kanpur from Sept. 27.

India top the World Test Cha­m­­­p­ionship standings and are second in the ICC’s Test rankings.

After facing Bangladesh, Rohit Sharma’s India will host New Zealand for three matches before flying to Australia for a five-Test series.

Bangladesh Test squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Jaker Ali Anik.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2024