All-rounder Ziaur Rahman obtained a place in the Test squad along with pace bowler Shafiul Islam who both left for Zimbabwe on Sunday night to bolster the strength of the Bangladesh team after their morale-shattering defeat in the first Test.
The cricketers will be there as cover for pacers Rubel Hossain and Shahadat Hossain who are both nursing injuries and are doubtful for the second Test which gets underway at the Harare Sports Club on April 25.
Rubel hurt his shoulder during the first Test while Shahadat is tending a recurrence of his knee injury.
Zia was visibly elated after getting the nod in the Test squad and said he was looking forward to grabbing the opportunity with both hands.
‘It is a dream come true,’ Zia told New Age at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium where he came to pick up his passport on Sunday.
‘Though I am known to be a Twenty20 specialist, it (a place in the Test squad)
will provide me with the prospect of transforming my image and I am eagerly waiting to do that,’ he added.
Bangladesh went into the series as favourites after their successful tour of Sri Lanka but was humiliated in the first Test match by 335 runs and are desperately looking to change their fortunes in Zimbabwe.
-With New Age input
