Left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam has been included in the Bangladesh squad for the second Test against the hosts West Indies, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said Monday. Shoriful was not a part of the Test side due to an injury. As the pacer is doing well now, the selectors added him to the team. He has played four Tests and bagged six wickets. Shoriful's best bowling figure is 69/3. In the first Test of the series, Bangladesh suffered a seven-wicket defeat after a poor batting display in both innings.  New Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan hit 50s in each innings, and Nurul Hasan Sohan scored one in the second innings. Most of the other batsmen were too culpable in their dismissals. Also Read: “It’s not acceptable”: Shakib on Tigers' batting woes Mehidy Hasan bagged four wickets in the first innings; Khaled Ahmed took three in the second.  The second Test of the series is set to be played on June 24 at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia. After the two-match Test series, both teams will lock horns in a three-match ODI and three-match T20I series. 

Former head coach of Bangladesh U-19 national cricket team, Naveed Nawaz, sees a great future for the youngsters like Shoriful Islam and Mahmudul Hasan Joy. Both of them played in the ICC U-19 World Cup under Naveed in 2020 when Bangladesh won the title in South Africa. Naveed left Bangladesh’s job after coaching the U-19 team in two world cups. He joined the Sri Lankan cricket board as the assistant coach of the national team. The Sri Lanka national team arrived in Dhaka on Sunday to play a two-match Test series against the Tigers in Chattogram and Dhaka with the first match scheduled to begin on May 15 in Chattogram. Also read: Sri Lankan cricket team arrives in Dhaka “They have a great future,” Naveed said when he was asked about his former pupils. “Now I’m in the dressing room of their opponent, but it doesn't matter. They already proved their mettle, and they will play for Bangladesh for a longer period of time.” Naveed will meet them in Chattogram when the Sri Lankan team travels there for the first match. “They have the prospect to become the legends for Bangladesh. I think they will be happy to see me on Chattogram,” Naveed added. Both Shoriful and Mahmudul spent a lot of time with Naveed during their early days of professional cricket, both have got their international caps too. Shoriful played three Tests, 10 ODIs and 19 T20Is so far while Mahmudul played four Tests. Also read: Mustafiz should play Tests, not pick and choose: Khaled Mahmud Mahmudul recorded his maiden Test ton during the last away series of Bangladesh in South Africa. While the first Test of the upcoming series will begin on May 15, the second and final Test will be played in Dhaka from May 23. This series is a part of the ongoing cycle of the ICC Test Championship.

Bangladesh left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam bagged four wickets conceding 46 runs— his career best — in the second of three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe in the Harare Sports Club.  Riding on Shoriful’s bowling excellence, Bangladesh managed to wrap Zimbabwe for 240/9 in 50 overs.  Wesley Madhevere was the best batsman for Zimbabwe scoring 56 off 63 balls with five fours and one six. Brendan Taylor (46), Dion Myers (34) and Sikandar Raza (30) also did well with the bats.  While Shorfiul scalped four for Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan took two, and Taskin Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Saifuddin bagged one wicket each.  Bangladesh won the series opener by a big margin of 155 runs, riding on the fourth ODI hundred by Liton Das. Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have also done well with the bat.  In reply to Bangladesh’s 276, Zimbabwe tumbled for 121 despite a fifty by Regis Chakabva. Bangladesh’s premium spinner Shakib Al Hasan bagged five wickets for 30 runs to guide the Tigers to an emphatic win.  READ: Chris Gayle Reaches 14K Twenty20 Runs: The Undisputed King in T20 Cricket  So, the second match came as an opportunity to seal the series for the Tigers.  This series is a part of the World Cup Super League. The top seven teams of this event along with the shots, India, will qualify directly to the World Cup 2023.  Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal(c), Liton Das(w), Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Mithun, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Regis Chakabva(w), Brendan Taylor(c), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza, Wesley Madhevere, Luke Jongwe, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava READ: Bangladesh bowl first in second ODI

Bangladesh pacers Rubel Hossain and Shoriful are confident of doing well in the challenging limited-over series against the Blackcaps in their backyard.