Bangladesh open a two-match World Test Championship series against West Indies in Mirpur on Wednesday with pace bowler Taskin Ahmed recalled and fast bowler Nahid Rana ruled out injured.
The first Bangladesh vs West Indies Test of 2026 starts on October 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium and is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, Cricbuzz reported.
The series carries weight in the standings. Bangladesh are fourth in the 2025-27 WTC table and need to win at least four of their remaining six matches and draw one to keep alive their hopes of reaching the final for the first time, according to a preview published by the Corsicana Daily Sun.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto wants his players to think about West Indies rather than a potential final, the Corsicana Daily Sun reported. "As I said always, if we can fulfil the small target we'll achieve the bigger target. So the immediate focus is onto the series against West Indies," Shanto said.
When and where does the Bangladesh vs West Indies Test series 2026 start?
The series has two Tests, according to Cricbuzz:
- First Test: from October 28, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur
- Second Test: from November 5, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium
The Bangladesh Cricket Board named a 15-member squad for the opening Test on Friday, October 23. The final playing XI has not been announced.
The squad is Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vice-captain), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam.
Taskin, who was rested for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, joins Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam in the pace attack, chief selector Habibul Bashar said. The squad also includes three spinners: Taijul, Mehidy and Nayeem.
Why is Nahid Rana missing the first Test?
Nahid Rana is in Australia for an assessment of a longstanding injury and has been ruled out of the opening Test, Cricbuzz reported. He is also unlikely to return for the second Test in Sylhet.
Bangladesh do have wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das available. He missed the tri-nation series in the United Arab Emirates with a hip bone injury. Bashar acknowledged some lingering doubt over his fitness.
"The mission is very clear. Since we are part of the WTC, these two matches are part of the WTC. So it's very important for us. So obviously if you look at our team, we haven't made too many changes. Although there is still a little concern about Liton but we are hopeful that he will be fine. So we don't have to make too many changes. We are hopeful, we are confident," Bashar said.
Jaker Ali has been named back-up wicketkeeper. He is captaining a BCB XI against the touring West Indies in a two-day warm-up match.
Why Khaled Ahmed and Soumya Sarkar missed out
Taskin's return came at the expense of fellow pacer Khaled Ahmed, who played against Zimbabwe. Opener Soumya Sarkar, part of the squad for the Afghanistan Test, has also been left out, according to Cricbuzz.
Bashar said Ebadot, Shoriful and Hasan are currently the selectors' top three seamers. With Taskin back, he said, Khaled's chances of a place were low.
"So since we have taken four seam bowlers, Khaled didn't get a chance. But when we go to South Africa and even in the next Test match maybe Khaled can be back in the squad. But the thing we are emphasizing is first-class cricket, we are giving great importance. We want those who may not be in the XI to play first-class. That is the reason we are also not keeping Soumya Sarkar as want him to play first-class cricket," Bashar said.
Bangladesh World Test Championship standings: what is needed for a first final
Bangladesh have played six matches in the 2025-27 WTC cycle. They have won three, lost two and drawn one, the Corsicana Daily Sun reported.
That leaves six matches, including the two against West Indies. According to the same report, Bangladesh must win at least four of them and draw one to keep their hopes of a first final alive. Defeats at home in Mirpur or Sylhet would leave little margin for the rest of the cycle, which Bashar indicated includes a tour of South Africa.
Shanto has framed the task one series at a time. Before the first ball on Wednesday, Bangladesh still have to confirm their XI and whether Litton Das is fully fit to take the gloves.