Rejaur Rahman Raja

Abhishek Singh ∙ 23 Nov 2021

Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Rejaur Raja earn maiden Bangladesh call up for Pakistan Test series

Bangladesh announced a 15 member squad for the two-match Test series against Pakistan starting November 26 at Chattogram. While Shakib Al Hasan has been named as probable in the squad and his entry is subject to fitness clearance, Two new names in Batter Mahmudul Hasan Joy and fast bowler Rejaur Rahman Raja have earned their maiden call ups for Bangladesh. The decision to include Joy and Raja have been included as experienced players such as Mahmudullah, Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed have not been named in the squad due to retirement and injury concerns. "It is still early days for him but Mahmudul has shown good temperament for the longer version. With injury concerns to Taskin (Ahmed) and Shoriful (Islam), we needed to keep our pace-bowling options open and Raja got the nod. We have been monitoring his performances in first-class competitions. He is strong and energetic and has a knack for taking wickets,” Minhajul Abedin, the Bangladesh chief selector said. Both Joy and Raja did well in the ongoing National Cricket League. While the 21-year-old Joy, who was part of the Bangladesh Under-19 World Cup-winning squad made back-to-back centuries for Chattogram Division, the 22-year-old Raja, who plays for Sylhet Division, took 12 wickets at an average of 16.91, with best match figures of 8 for 82. The rest of the squad has experience in the likes of skipper Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das with the bat and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and Eabadot Hossain. Pakistan clean swept the T20I series 3-0 and would look to do the same in the two-match Test series which is part of the World Test Championship 2021-23. Bangladesh squad for first Test: Mominul Haque (capt), Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Ebadat Hossain, Abu Jayed, Yasir Ali, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shakib Al Hasan (subject to fitness)