Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons has questioned whether spinner Taijul Islam deserves a place in the XI for the second Test against West Indies in Sylhet, scheduled for November 5 to 9, 2026. The concern follows an eight-wicket defeat in Dhaka and a clear gap in spin output between the two sides.
Spin Output Gap in the Dhaka Test
The first Test exposed a significant difference in spin effectiveness. Bangladesh lost 16 wickets to West Indies spinners Roston Chase, Jomel Warrican and Joshua Bishop.
Bangladesh's own spinners took only eight wickets in the match, and all of them came in the first innings. That points to a sharp drop-off in their second-innings control.
| Metric | Bangladesh Spinners | West Indies Spinners |
|---|
| Wickets in Dhaka Test | 8 | 16 |
| Innings with wickets | First innings only | Both innings |
| Result of match | Lost by 8 wickets | Won by 8 wickets |
A spin-heavy attack is normally a home strength for Bangladesh. The numbers from Dhaka suggest the visitors outperformed the hosts in that department.
Simmons on Taijul's Form and Fitness
Simmons described the situation as 'hugely concerning'. He linked Taijul's struggles to poor form and a period of recovery from a left shoulder injury.
He also stressed that Taijul remains a major weapon, which makes the decision harder. Simmons said the matter would be discussed with the player before a final call is made.
Confirmed Changes for the Sylhet Test
Several personnel changes are already settled for the second Test. Mominul Haque suffered a concussion in Dhaka and will miss the match.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto will move up to bat at number three. Mushfiqur Rahim, who missed the first Test with a finger injury, is fit and returns to the middle order.
| Player | Status | Expected Role |
|---|
| Mominul Haque | Out (concussion) | Unavailable |
| Najmul Hossain Shanto | Available | Captain, batting at number three |
| Mushfiqur Rahim | Fit after finger injury | Middle order |
| Amite Hasan | Added to squad | Wicketkeeper-batter, XI place not guaranteed |
| Taijul Islam | Under review | Place in XI uncertain |
Shanto taking the number three slot adds responsibility to the captain's role. It also shifts the balance of the top order after the loss of Mominul.
Amite Hasan and His Domestic Record
Bangladesh have added Amite Hasan as Mominul's replacement. He is a wicketkeeper-batter who has played one Test, against Zimbabwe in July 2026.
Selectors cited his strong domestic record as the basis for his inclusion. He has been among the most consistent first-class performers in Bangladesh over the past five years.
| Amite Hasan Profile | Detail |
|---|
| Test appearances | 1 (vs Zimbabwe, July 2026) |
| First-class batting average | 62.23 |
| First-class double-centuries | 3 (latest in the National Cricket League) |
| Domestic consistency window | Past five years |
Bridging the Domestic-to-Test Gap
A first-class average above 60 is a strong indicator of run-scoring volume. Test cricket, however, is a different level of opposition.
Simmons acknowledged that difference. He said Amite now needs to show he can replicate his domestic output at international level when the next chance arrives.
What to Watch in Sylhet
Three selection questions will shape Bangladesh's response. The first is whether Taijul keeps his place after a drop in output and a shoulder recovery.
The second is whether Amite Hasan gets a debut-level opportunity in the middle order. The third is whether the batting unit can respond, as Simmons has said the team must step up with the bat after Dhaka.
With West Indies spinners taking 16 wickets in the first Test, spin management on both sides is likely to decide the series. Bangladesh must close that wicket-taking gap quickly to level the contest.