PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED

SPORTS REPORTER

While the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) is ongoing, Bangladesh national Test team players are already setting their sights on the upcoming Test series against Zimbabwe in Sylhet and Chattogram.

With Test team’s Liton Das and Nahid Rana expected to participate in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), several new faces may be called up for the series.

As the series against Zimbabwe is not part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle, it offers a valuable opportunity to test fresh talent. Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who is the vice-captain of the Test side and had previously captained Bangladesh to a 1-1 series draw in the West Indies in December last year, emphasised the importance of including younger players, especially in the absence of experienced stars like Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan.

“There are many young players who will have an opportunity going forward. When we won a Test match in the West Indies, we didn’t have many [established] players, and that created chances for two or three youngsters. In this series against Zimbabwe, some young players will likely get opportunities, and it will be important for them to perform,” Miraz told reporters after his DPL team, Mohammedan, secured a five-wicket win over Prime Bank in Mirpur yesterday.

“Our senior-most players have retired, and we have to slowly take on the responsibility. Those who are here must perform and help take Bangladesh to the next level. This responsibility belongs to all of us,” he added.

One promising name is Mahidul Islam Ankon, who impressed in the last Bangladesh Premier League and has been in good form during the current DPL. Ankon made his Test debut during the home series against South Africa last year, and with Liton unavailable for the upcoming matches, sources suggest Ankon is the frontrunner to take over as the wicketkeeper-batter. He also featured in the warm-up match in the Caribbean during Bangladesh’s last Test tour.

Miraz expressed confidence in Ankon’s potential to contribute.

“He [Ankon] has performed well in domestic cricket over the past three to four years and has been considered a regular performer. He even earned his chance in the national team. I feel it’s important to give them [young players] opportunities -- if they do well, they can serve Bangladesh for the next five to seven years. That’s crucial. At the same time, he will develop the habit of performing in international cricket. He is preparing well, and I’ve played alongside him for a long time. Given his mentality, I believe he will succeed in international cricket,” Miraz said.

Zimbabwe are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on April 15, and with the DPL still underway, questions have been raised about how the national team will prepare for the two-Test series, which begins on April 20 in Sylhet before moving on to Chattogram for the second Test that starts on April 28.

The Tigers had recently participated in the Champions Trophy after playing in the BPL, a T20 competition, and coaches and officials had voiced concerns about the adequacy of their preparations.

“The schedule was set earlier, and you can’t suddenly change the calendar. We have to adjust and play in the BPL, DPL, and international matches. In the future, the board could consider maintaining a better balance between domestic and international fixtures,” Miraz suggested.

“We will have about 10 days before the Test series, and we hope to prepare during this time. We may have a two-day practice match in Sylhet or a match scenario practice session. But I believe 10 days is plenty of time to prepare,” Miraz concluded.