Bangladesh rest Mustafizur Rehman for Afghanistan Test

Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal was also rested for the Test following a request from the player, who wanted the break to refresh after his recent bad patch.

Bangladesh Cricket Board on Friday announced a 15-man squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, with the selectors resting paceman Mustafizur Rahman. Afghanistan arrived in Dhaka Friday morning for their maiden Test against Bangladesh, starting September 5 in Chittagong.

Mustafizur Rahman,right, with Bangladesh teammates. (AP)

“Mustafizur has a light injury. Since we have only one Test match, we did not want to take any risk. Moreover, we have many matches coming. This is why we rested him,” chief selector Minhajul Abedin told AFP.

Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal was also rested for the Test following a request from the player, who wanted the break to refresh after his recent bad patch.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan returned to the Test side. Pacer Taskin Ahmed and all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain were also recalled.

Pace bowler Khalid Ahmed was dropped. Chief selector Minhajul said wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das will take Tamim’s opening slot in the Test.

Afghanistan will also play a tri-nation Twenty20 tournament from September 13 with Zimbabwe and hosts Bangladesh.