Bangladesh add Litton Das to Test squad for Australia tour

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has added wicketkeeper batter Litton Das to the Test squad for the two-match series against Australia starting August 13. Litton sustained an injury to his left calf during the course of the three-match ODI series against Australia at home.

He missed Bangladesh's multi-format tour of Zimbabwe, comprising a one-off Test, three ODIs and as many T20Is. Litton was one of the pre-signings for Galle Gallants in the Lanka Premier League, but the injury ruled him out of the tournament.

Litton's inclusion in the Test side is a big boost for the touring party, which is already depleted with injuries to pacers Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana. The BCB has expressed satisfaction over Litton's recovery and feels he will be fit for selection for the first Test in Darwin.

"The 31-year-old batsman has been sidelined since June due to the injury, but has responded well to his rehabilitation programme and will be in consideration for selection for the opening Test," the BCB said in a statement as reported by Cricinfo. "He will fly to Darwin on Sunday to join the squad."

Bangladesh's tour of Australia will begin with a three-day warm-up fixture at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin on August 6. This is Bangladesh's first bilateral visit to Australia for a Test series since 2003.

The Bangla Tigers were a fairly inexperienced outfit in 2003 and were comprehensively beaten by the Aussies in the two-match Test series, losing both games by a margin of an innings. The two teams have played three red-ball series against each other, with Australia winning two and the previous one in 2017 ending in a 1-1 draw.

Updated Bangladesh squad for two-match Test series against Australia

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Musfik Hasan, Litton Das