Mominul back in first Test squad

Mominul Haque, the Bangladesh batsman who on Saturday was left out of Bangladesh’s 14-man squad for the first Test against Australia, has been re-introduced in the squad as replacement for Mosaddek Hossain on Sunday evening.

Mosaddek was picked in the squad in hopes that he could recover from his eye problem before the first Test, but chief selector Minhajul Abedin told The Daily Star that it will take seven to 10 days for him to fully recover, which means that he will miss the first Test beginning on August 27.  

"This was always part of the plan," said Minhajul. "We thought if Mosaddek does not recover from his eye problem someone will come into the squad, and that has turned out to be Mominul. As we have been waiting for the final approval of the BCB president [Nazmul Hassan], Mominul has been included today."

Mominul, until recently a regular in Bangladesh's Test team, was left out of the team for the Tigers' most recent Test against Sri Lanka in March after indifferent form following a 65 in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington in January. 

On Saturday, the selectors announced a 14-member squad in which Nasir Hossain made a comeback, but there was no place for Mominul Haque. It created a stir because Mominul has been one of Bangladesh's better batsmen, averaging 46.38 in Tests. 

In a rapidly developing saga, veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said as much earlier today, when he spoke out in support of his former teammate.