Bangladesh axe Mahmudullah for Zimbabwe Test

Bangladesh have dropped batsman Mahmudullah and recalled pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman for one-off Test against Zimbabwe starting next Saturday. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim also returns to side for Dhaka match after opting out of Test against Pakistan earlier this month over safety concerns. 16-member squad named Sunday has four changes from team that lost to Pakistan by an innings and 44 runs in Rawalpindi.

Spinner Mehidy Hasan and pacer Taskin Ahmed are back after recovering from injury while batsman Soumya Sarkar, pacers Rubel Hossain and Al-Amin Hossain were dropped. Batsman Yasir Ali Chowdhury and fast bowler Hasan Mahmud are two uncapped players in squad. "I believe we have selected best possible Test squad under present circumstances. re is a very nice blend of experience and potential," chairman of selection panel, Minhajul Abedin, said in a BCB statement. "It is unfortunate that some players had to miss out but our priority has been to ensure balance and continuity. We felt that Mahmudullah needed a break from red ball." 

Mahmudullah has scored only one half-century since making 146 runs against New Zealand in March last year. Bangladesh are currently on a bad run of form in Tests, losing ir last six matches -- three of m by an innings margin. hosts will also play three one-day internationals and two Twenty20s in upcoming series in March.

Squad

Mominul Haque (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadat Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Yasir ali.