Dhaka, June 4 (V7N) – Fast bowler Ebadat Hossain has made a long-awaited return to the national Test squad after nearly two years. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 16-member squad on Wednesday for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

Nazmul Hossain Shanto will captain the side, with all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz named as his deputy.

Ebadat, who last featured in the Mirpur Test against Afghanistan in 2023, has recovered from injury and is set to don the national whites once again—if all goes well.

The selection also sees the return of wicketkeeper-batter Liton Das and pacer Nahid Rana. Liton was on personal leave during the previous series, while Nahid had left for the Pakistan Super League after the first Test against Zimbabwe.

Notably, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, pacer Tanjim Hasan Shakib, and spinner Tanvir Islam have been dropped from the squad that recently faced Zimbabwe.

The squad is scheduled to depart for Sri Lanka on June 13. The first Test will be played in Galle from June 17, followed by the second Test in Colombo starting June 25. This series marks the beginning of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle for both teams.

Following the Tests, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will play three ODIs and a one-off T20I.

END/MSS/AJ