Bangladesh have announced a 16-member squad for the two-Test tour of South Africa. Uncapped opener Mahfijul Islam earns a maiden call-up, while Mohammad Naim returns after more than four years. The changes are driven largely by an opening vacancy left by injury.
Why the Opening Slot Changed
Regular opener Shadman Islam has been ruled out with an ankle injury sustained during the ongoing Sylhet Test against West Indies. That created an immediate need for a right-handed opener.
Chief selector Habibul Bashar said the selectors had another opener in mind. Mahmudul Hasan Joy was in the reckoning but was ruled out on medical grounds the previous afternoon, which delayed the announcement.
Key Squad Changes at a Glance
| Player | Status | Reason / Context |
|---|
| Mahfijul Islam | Called up (uncapped) | Strong domestic form; A team experience in South Africa |
| Mohammad Naim | Recalled | One previous Test, in 2022 at Christchurch |
| Khaled Ahmed | Recalled | Pace bowling option |
| Mominul Haque | Included | Missed the second West Indies Test with concussion |
| Shadman Islam | Ruled out | Ankle injury |
| Nayeem Hasan | Not retained | Part of the West Indies series, left out of this squad |
| Nahid Rana | Unavailable | Recovering from a labrum tear |
Mahfijul Islam's Domestic Numbers
Mahfijul has been the standout batter in the ongoing 28th National Cricket League. He has scored 672 runs in 10 innings for Mymensingh at an average of 74.67.
His unbeaten 217 against Chattogram is the centrepiece of that run. It accounts for roughly 32 percent of his total runs this season.
Season Snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Runs | 672 |
| Innings | 10 |
| Average | 74.67 |
| Highest score | 217* |
| Runs per innings (all) | 67.2 |
| Runs excluding 217* (9 innings) | 455 (about 50.6 per innings) |
Even without the double hundred, the remaining innings average above 50 per knock. That suggests consistency beyond a single large score.
Selector Reasoning on Mahfijul
Bashar described Mahfijul as an organised batter who looked ready for Test cricket. He pointed to the batter's showing for the A team in South Africa in August.
The selectors also said they wanted to give him more time to prepare. His form across first-class and A-team cricket convinced them the timing was right to produce a right-handed opener.
Naim's Long Gap Between Tests
Mohammad Naim played his only Test against New Zealand in Christchurch in 2022. He had not been considered for the format since, a gap of more than four years.
His return adds a second opening option alongside Tanzid Hasan Tamim. Naim and Mahfijul together bring just one Test appearance of experience, so the top order will be inexperienced in South African conditions.
Full Bangladesh Test Squad
Najmul Hossain Shanto leads the side, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz as vice-captain. The squad blends experience with several fresh or returning names.
| No. | Player | Note |
|---|
| 1 | Najmul Hossain Shanto | Captain |
| 2 | Tanzid Hasan Tamim | Batter |
| 3 | Mohammad Naim | Batter, recalled |
| 4 | Mominul Haque | Batter |
| 5 | Mushfiqur Rahim | Batter |
| 6 | Litton Das | Batter |
| 7 | Towhid Hridoy | Batter |
| 8 | Jaker Ali Anik | Batter |
| 9 | Mehidy Hasan Miraz | Vice-captain |
| 10 | Taijul Islam | Spinner |
| 11 | Taskin Ahmed | Pacer |
| 12 | Hasan Mahmud | Pacer |
| 13 | Shoriful Islam | Pacer |
| 14 | Ebadot Hossain | Pacer |
| 15 | Khaled Ahmed | Pacer, recalled |
| 16 | Mahfijul Islam | Opener, uncapped |
Tour Schedule
Bangladesh depart for South Africa on November 10 and 11. The Test series opens in Johannesburg, followed by the second Test in Centurion.
| Fixture | Venue | Start Date |
|---|
| First Test | Johannesburg | November 15 |
| Second Test | Centurion | November 23 |
| Limited-overs leg | South Africa | Three ODIs and three T20Is after the Tests |
Analytical Outlook
The squad leans toward pace, with five fast bowlers named alongside Mehidy and Taijul as spin options. That reflects the bounce and seam movement typically expected at Johannesburg and Centurion.
The main variable is the opening pair. Mahfijul's domestic average of 74.67 is encouraging, but it remains to be seen how that translates to Test level against a high-quality South African attack.