Bangladesh lost the toss and were asked to bowl first in Chattogram in the first Test of a two-match series against India. Looking to continue their success demonstrated in the ODI series, Bangladesh now face India in a series of Tests. In this Test, Zakir Hasan, the accomplished left-handed wicketkeeper batter, was awarded the Test cap. He has shown great form in the longer version of cricket in recent years at the domestic circuit. Also read: Four Bangladeshi Cricketers to Compete in IPL 2023 Auction Bangladesh made the bold decision to drop Mominul Haque, as the talented left-hander has been enduring a prolonged slump in performance. This was the first time he was excluded from a Test match in Chattogram since his debut in 2013. The hosts fielded three genuine bowlers — Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed and Taijul Islam — along with allrounders Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. India are missing their captain Rohit Sharma who sustained a finger injury in the ODI series. In his absence, Lokesh Rahul is leading them in this Test. Also read; Shakib could miss first Test against India Bangladesh (Playing XI): Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan (w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Lokesh Rahul(c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (w), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.

Zakir Hasan, 24, has been rewarded for his exceptional performance in the longer form of cricket. He will join the Bangladesh Test squad for the first time in the Tigers' first match against India starting on December 14 in Chattogram. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the 17-member squad on Thursday evening. Tamim Iqbal will not be a part of the squad due to a groin injury that sidelined him prior to the ODI series. In his absence, Liton Das will lead the Tigers. Last week, Zakir put on a remarkable display by scoring 173 runs that saved an unofficial Test for the Bangladesh A team against India A in Cox's Bazar. Read more: Career, Performance of Miraz: An Emerging Star of Bangladeshi Cricket The left-handed batter had an outstanding performance in the last edition of the National Cricket League. He scored 442 runs at an average of over 56, a remarkable feat in Bangladesh's biggest first-class cricket event. Zakir could be an asset for Bangladesh in the longer format of cricket. He scored over 4,000 runs from 68 first-class matches at an average of 41.52, with 13 centuries and 14 fifties. His List-A record is also impressive, with two centuries and 16 half-centuries from just 94 matches and an average of 28.86. However, the 24-year-old has not been as successful in the T20s as in other formats, scoring 708 runs from 62 matches at an average of 17.70. While Zakir got his maiden call-up, Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed and Yasir Ali made a return to the Test team. Mushfiqur missed the last series as he performed hajj; Taskin and Yasir were injured. Read more: More confident as a batter now, says Mehidy after heroics against India Before the Test series, Bangladesh and India will play the last match of the ODI series on December 10. Bangladesh already won the series with wins in the first in the second match in Dhaka, riding on the heroics of Mehidy Hasna Miraz. Bangladesh Test squad Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, Yasir Ali, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Zakir Hasan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, and Anamul Haque

Veteran batsman Tushar Imran of Khulna Division, Zakir Hasan of Sylhet Division and Pinak Ghose of Chattogram Division hit First-class centuries on Monday, the day one of the second round of the Bangabandhu National Cricket League (NCL). It was Zakir’s second century of the season. Sohag Gazi of Barishal Divison and Mukidul Islam of Rangpur Division bagged six wickets each on Monday as well. In the first round of the games, Khulna and Dhaka divisions won their first Tier-one games while Dhaka Metro and Chattogram won their Tier-two games. Also read: Zakir, Nazmul best performers of NCL 1st round Brief score of day one of NCL second round: Khulna vs Rangpur: Khulna 1st innings: 221/10 in 49.2 overs (Tushar 116, Nurul 31, Nahidul 29; Mukidul 6/64, Nobin 2/31, Ariful 2/54) Rangpur 1st innings: 103/3 in 29 overs (Jahid 32, Tanbir 29*, Nasir 19*; Masum 1/24, Abdul Halim 1/34, Ziaur 1/38) Also read: NCL: Nasir hits 100, claims 4 wickets Sylhet vs Dhaka Division: Sylhet 1st innings: 282/6 in 90 overs (Zakir 159, Jaker 67, Asadullah 24*; Shuvagata 3/56, Sumon 2/48) Barishal vs Rajshahi Division: Barishal 1st innings: 82/10 in 29.3 overs (Moin 18, Salman 13, Moinul 12; Sunzamul 4/18, Taijul 4/39, Mohor 2/7) Rajshahi 1st innings: 151/10 in 48.5 overs (Junaid 43, Taijul 37, Tanzid 36; Sohag 6/65, Monir 1/4) Also read: NCL opening day: Saif hits 100; Tushar gets run-out on 99 Chattogram vs Dhaka Metro: Chattogram 1st innings: 281/4 in 88 overs (Pinak 137*, Yasir 49, Shahadat 32*; Arafat 2/66, Abu Haider 1/30)

Sylhet Division's Zakir Hasan and Dhaka Division's Nazmul Islam Apu ended the first round of the Bangabandhu 22nd National Cricket League (NCL) as the best batsman and bowler. Despite scoring most runs in the first round of NCL, Zakir could not help his team to register a win due to the failure of his teammates. However, Nazmul helped Dhaka pull off a victory against Rangpur.  Zakir hit 151 with a highest of 140 while Nazmul bagged 10 wickets with a six-wicket haul. All four matches of the round got a winner as Dhaka beat Rangpur by 80 runs, Khulna beat Sylhet by eight wickets, Chattogram beat Rajshahi by 88 runs while Dhaka Metropolis beat Barishal by eight wickets. Also read: NCL: Nasir hits 100, claims 4 wickets Dhaka vs Rangpur Dhaka 1st innings 365/10 in 106.3 overs (Saif 127, Nadif 69, Mahidul 47, Arafat 42; Alauddin 4/46, Mahmudul 2/78) Rangpur 1st innings 230/10 in 93.4 overs (Nasir 115, Mahmudul 27, Alauddin 22; Nazmul 4/89, Shakil 2/12, Sumon 2/31) Dhaka 2nd innings 128/10 in 45.5 overs (Arafat 40, Rony 21, 19 Shuvagata; Nasir 4/21, Sohrawordi 3/26, Mahmudul 2/39) Rangpur 2nd innings 183/10 in 86.2 overs (Naeem 61, Akbar 28, Sohrawordi 20; Nazmul 6/64, Taibur 2/21) Result: Dhaka won by 80 runs and Nazmul won the man of the match award Also read: NCL opening day: Saif hits 100; Tushar gets run-out on 99 Khulna vs Sylhet Khulna 1st innings 375/10 in 109.4 overs (Tushar 99, Imrul 90, Nahidul 48, Robiul 37; Ebadot 3/79, Abu Jayed 3/94, Alok 1/52) Sylhet 1st innings 134/10 in 60.4 overs (Imtiaz 37, Enamul Jr 30, Jaker 18, Amit 14; Ziaur 3/24, Masum 3/71, Halim 2/60) Sylhet 2nd innings (follow-on) 308/10 in 104.5 overs (Zakir 140, Amite 66, Alok 23; Halim 4/62, Moinul 3/36) Khulna 2nd innings 73/2 in 9.3 overs (Imran 33*, Imrul 18, Robiul 14; Khaled 1/32, Rejaur 1/5) Result: Khulna won by 8 wickets and Zakir Hasan won the man of the match award Barishal vs Dhaka Metro Barishal 1st innings 241/10 in 76 overs (Ashraful 48, Abu Sayem 46, Sohag 45, Shykat 36; Abu Haider 3/34, Rakibul 3/76, Arafat 2/59) Dhaka Metro 1st innings 413/10 in 129.2 overs (Marshall 112, Shohidul 106, Zahiduzzaman 60, Zabid 41; Kamrul 2/49, Sohag 2/77, Monir 2/80, Tanvir 2/84) Barishal 2nd innings 208/10 in 73.2 overs (Moinul 63, Salman 44, Shykat 25, Monir 18; Abu Haider 3/42, Shohidul 2/43, Shamsur 1/2) Dhaka Metro 2nd innings 37/2 in 11.5 overs (Zahiduzzaman 15, Anisul 10; Tanvir 2/13) Result: Dhaka Metro won by eight wickets and Shohidul Islam won the man of the match award Chattogram vs Rajshahi Chattogram 1st innings 287/10 101.2 overs (Shahadat 108, Yasir 63, Mehede 55; Farhad 4/44, Asaduzzaman 2/21, Taijul 2/63) Rajshahi 1st innings 152/10 in 44.3 overs (Farhad 27, Forhad 24, Shabbir 24; Noman 4/47, Mehedi 3/22, Hasan 2/35) Chattogram 2nd innings 147/10 in 50.5 overs (Irfan 65, Mahmudul 39, Shahadat 19; Towhid 3/19, Farhad 3/37, Taijul 3/48) Rajshahi 2nd innings 194/10 in 69 overs (Junaid 68*, Tanzid 28, Farhad 25, Towhid 23; Mehedi 4/35, Ifran 3/40) Result: Chattogram won by 88 runs and Mehedi Hasan won the man of the match award

Zakir Hasan hit a fifty to help Gemcon Khulna beat Fortune Barishal by 48 runs on Friday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.