Zakir included in squad as Mushy, Taskin and Yasir return for India Test

Bangladesh named the squad for the first Test against India on December 14 at Chattogram and youngster Zakir Hasan, who struck 173 against India A at Cox's Bazar was named in the side following his performances with the bat. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim also returned while Yasir Ali and Taskin Ahmed returned after sitting out the last Test assignments due to injuries.

The 24-year old Zakir has been earmarked as a potential star and the inclusion gives the left-hander the chance to show his mettle against the India senior side.

"We are very confident about him and hoping he will do well. He has been in our High Performance side for the last four years and has featured for the A team. So we have been nurturing him in every possible way. If he gets the opportunity in this platform, he will do well," chief selector Minhajul Abedin told The Daily Star today.

Pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed had his bout with injuries and despite being included in the ODI series which Bangladesh clinched 2-0 against India, the pacer was not risked in the first two ODIs. Taskin will bring much-needed aggression to the pace unit while Yasir will bolster the middle-order in the Test side led by skipper Shakib Al Hasan.

"We have got our full team with us now and hoping for a good challenge in the upcoming Test series and hoping they will do well," Minhajul added regarding the return of the duo.

Tamim Iqbal, who was earlier ruled out of the ODI series due to a groin injury, has not been named in the squad while Mustafizur Rahman, who was included in last Windies Test series due to injuries to other pacers, has been excluded from the squad for the first Test. Mosaddek Hossain, who struck 68 during the India A game at Cox's Bazar was also excluded.

Meanwhile Anamul Haque Bijoy made the squad for the first Test after he was included in the last series against Windies.

Test squad: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, Yasir Ali, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Zakir Hasan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Anamul Haque