Bangladesh Test Squad West Indies: Shanto Leads 15 Member Group as Taskin Returns for Mirpur Test

Bangladesh have named their squad for the opening match of the two-Test home series against the West Indies. The 15-player group was confirmed on 23 October 2026, just five days before the first Test begins in Mirpur. The bangladesh test squad west indies announcement carries one big story: the return of star pacer Taskin Ahmed, who missed the one-off Test against Afghanistan at the start of this month.

Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain the side throughout the series as Bangladesh continue their push towards the ICC World Test Championship final next year. Litton Das is also included in the squad despite a recent hip injury, while the spin department and the pace attack both look settled for the challenge of the West Indies.

Bangladesh Test Squad West Indies 2026: Full 15-Member List

The full list of players in the Bangladesh Test squad for 2026 is: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Hasan Mahmud, Jaker Ali Anik, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nayeem Hasan, Shadman Islam, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Taskin Ahmed and Tawhid Hridoy. The announcement was made on 23 October 2026.

The squad balances experience and youth across all departments. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque bring hundreds of Tests worth of batting experience, while the bowling attack combines the spin of Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan with the pace of Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud and Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury. Mehidy Hasan Miraz gives the team a quality all-round option in home conditions.

Two wicketkeeping options are included in the group. Litton Das is the first-choice keeper-batter, while Jaker Ali Anik provides cover behind the stumps and can also bat in the middle order. The selection of 15 players gives the team management flexibility for both Tests. You can read the full squad announcement from the ICC for the complete details.

The squad was named on 23 October, just five days before the first Test starts in Mirpur. The timing gives the players almost a full week to prepare in home conditions, with training camps and practice sessions planned before the serious action begins. Bangladesh have picked a group that covers every role, with two keepers, four seamers, two specialist spinners and a long batting line-up.

Najmul Hossain Shanto to Lead Bangladesh Through the Series

Najmul Hossain Shanto is the captain of Bangladesh for the West Indies Tests. The left-hand batter will lead the side throughout the two-match series, and his leadership will be crucial as Bangladesh chase a spot in the World Test Championship final.

Bangladesh currently sit in fourth place on the World Test Championship standings. A pair of positive results against the West Indies would move the team closer to a top-two berth and a place in the 2027 final. Shanto has grown into the captaincy role, and the home series gives him a strong chance to shape the team in his image.

The captain can count on senior support in the dressing room. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque have played Test cricket for more than a decade, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz is one of the best all-rounders in the format. You can read more about the skipper in the article on Najmul Hossain Shanto.

The home series is a golden chance for Bangladesh to climb the table. The team sits fourth in the World Test Championship standings, and a pair of positive results would move them closer to a top-two berth and a place in the 2027 final. The West Indies are eighth in the same standings, and the tour is the final assignment of their 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, so both teams have plenty to play for.

Taskin Ahmed Returns to the Bangladesh Test Squad

Taskin Ahmed is in the Bangladesh Test squad for the West Indies series. The star pacer returns to the Test group after missing the one-off Test against Afghanistan at the start of October, and his comeback gives the home attack genuine pace and experience with the new ball.

The pace department now looks deep. Shoriful Islam brings left-arm swing, Hasan Mahmud offers control and reverse swing, and Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury adds another right-arm option. With Taskin back, Bangladesh can pick an attack that suits the conditions in Mirpur and Sylhet. Read more on the pacer in the article on Taskin Ahmed.

Taskin missed the one-off Test against Afghanistan at the start of October, so his return is a major boost for the home side. The fast bowler has the pace to trouble any top order with the new ball, and his experience of bowling in pressure situations will help the younger quicks around him. With Taskin back, the Bangladesh attack looks balanced for both Mirpur and Sylhet.

Litton Das Included Despite Hip Injury

Litton Das is included in the Bangladesh Test squad despite a recent hip injury. The experienced wicketkeeper-batter has been named in the 15-player group, which shows that the team management expects him to be fit for the series starting on 28 October.

Litton is one of the most talented batters in the Bangladesh line-up. His ability to score quickly in the middle order and his sharp work behind the stumps make him a key player in home Tests. Jaker Ali Anik is the second keeper in the squad and will be ready to step in if the injury does not clear up in time.

The batting unit has plenty of options around Litton. Shadman Islam and Tanzid Hasan can open the innings, while Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tawhid Hridoy strengthen the middle order. You can read about the keeper in the article on Litton Das.

Bangladesh vs West Indies Test Series 2026: Schedule and Venues

The Bangladesh vs West Indies 1st Test 2026 will be played from 28 October to 1 November at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The 2nd Test follows from 5 to 9 November at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Both matches are part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.

Mirpur has a reputation for pitches that help spin as the game goes on, which should suit the home attack. Sylhet is a newer Test venue where the pitch often offers early help to the fast bowlers before settling down for batting. The West Indies are also in the middle of their own campaign, as the tour is the final assignment of their 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.

The visitors have already named their squad, with Roston Chase leading a 15-member group to Bangladesh. For a full guide to the tour, including both squads and all the key details, see the complete West Indies tour of Bangladesh 2026 guide.

Key Players to Watch in the West Indies Series

Taskin Ahmed will be the player to watch with the ball after his return to the squad. The fast bowler can change a session with the new ball, and his battle with the West Indies top order could decide the early phases of both Tests.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz remains the most valuable all-rounder in the side. His off-spin is deadly in home conditions, and his batting in the lower middle order has won Bangladesh many games. Taijul Islam will lead the spin attack, while Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque carry the batting experience that young players will look up to.

The series is a big opportunity for the newer names too. Tanzid Hasan and Tawhid Hridoy have the chance to cement their places in the Test side, while Hasan Mahmud can build on his growing reputation as a strike bowler. With a World Test Championship final spot in sight, every player in the squad has something to play for.

Bangladesh will start as favourites in home conditions, where their spinners have won many series in recent years. The West Indies have a young touring group, and the turning pitches of Mirpur will test their batters from the first morning of the series.

The West Indies have also named a strong touring party under captain Roston Chase. The visitors sit eighth in the World Test Championship standings, and head coach Daren Sammy has said that winning the series would move them closer to a top-half finish in the cycle. Playing Bangladesh in home conditions will be a stern test for the tourists, and the home crowd in Mirpur will expect nothing less than a series win.

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