Bangladesh have called up uncapped opener Mahfijul Islam for the upcoming tour of South Africa, with the selectors announcing a 16-member squad for the two-Test series. Mohammad Naim has also earned a recall after a gap of over four years, with regular opener Shadman Islam ruled out of the tour due to an ankle injury sustained in the ongoing Sylhet Test against West Indies.

Naim played his only Test against New Zealand at Christchurch in 2022 and wasn’t considered for the longest format since. Mahfijul, meanwhile, has been in great form in the ongoing 28th National Cricket League, scoring 672 runs in 10 innings for Mymensingh, averaging 74.67, which includes an unbeaten 217 against Chattogram.

Chief selector Habibul Bashar said that Mahfijul’s selection had to do with the requirement for a right-handed opener for a considerable period of time, as well as the unavailability of Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who was also in the reckoning.

“We actually wanted to give Robin [Mahfijul] a little more time to get ready. So I think he proved himself. We saw him in first-class, we saw him play for the A team, where he looked very promising,” Bashar said.

“We had another opener in mind, to be honest. That's why it took us a little longer to announce the team. We had thought about Mahmudul Hasan Joy. Unfortunately, he was ruled out yesterday afternoon on medical grounds.”

Bashar also acknowledged Mahfijul as an “organised” batter and felt that he seemed ready for the Test level going by his performances in South Africa with the A team in August.

“Robin seemed ready to us because he played well in the South Africa series. He went with the A team, and he performed reasonably well. And now, looking at his batting, it seems he is very, very organized. If we want to produce a right-handed opener, it seems to me that this is the best time,” he said.

Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan and wicket-keeper batter Amite Hasan, who are part of the ongoing Test series against West Indies, failed to retain their spot. Pacer Khaled Ahmed has been recalled while veteran batter Mominul Haque, who missed the second Test against West Indies after suffering a concussion in the series opener, is also back in the squad. Nahid Rana, meanwhile, continues to miss out as he recovers from a labrum tear injury.

Bangladesh are set to leave for South Africa on November 10 and 11 with the first Test starting in Johannesburg on November 15, followed by the second in Centurion beginning November 23. They will also play three ODIs and three T20Is after the Test series.

Bangladesh Test squad for South Africa tour: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mohammad Naim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vice-captain), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Mahfijul Islam.