Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman is expected to make a comeback into Bangladesh's Test squad for the Sri Lanka series. It is unsure as to whether or not the team will be announced today, but the selection committee is scheduled to have a meeting today afternoon during which the team is expected to be finalised.
The last time Mustafizur played a Test was back in July 2015 against South Africa. His highlight of the series was when he took three wickets in an over against the Proteas in the second Test. By the time Bangladesh's next Test rolled around in October 2016, Mustafizur was recovering from a shoulder surgery, the effects of which he has been struggling with till recently.
Following his operation in August 2016, he missed out on the series against Afghanistan, England, most of New Zealand and India. Having missed out on the recent tour of India, Mustafizur played a couple of four-day matches in the Bangladesh Cricket League, the country's premier four-day cricket competition. He bowled 31 overs in his last game and scalped two wickets. According to the selectors and Mustafizur himself, the player is fit enough for the Sri Lanka tour which begins next month.
While the team is not likely to see any major change, the one question that the team management will be pondering is regarding the inclusion of Imrul Kayes. Imrul is yet to prove his fitness. He however did seem at ease while batting in the Bangladesh Cricket League game yesterday at the BKSP.
Mosaddek Hossain replaced the injured Imrul in the squad for the India Test and he may have to make room for Imrul if the latter is deemed fit.
This could mean that either one of the pacers -- Shafiul Islam, Subhashis Roy or Kamrul Islam Rabbi -- may get the axe. Liton Das, Bangladesh's back-up wicketkeeper-batsman, is expected to retain his place in the team for the series. On the whole it seems as though there may not be __more than two changes from the squad that toured India.