Bangladesh has received a significant boost ahead of their Test series against Australia, with pacer Shoriful Islam successfully passing a mandatory fitness test. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials confirmed the development on Tuesday, August 11. Although a hamstring injury sustained during the July tour of Zimbabwe will keep him sidelined for the opening match, Shoriful is now cleared to travel and is expected to be in contention for the second Test.
Shahriar Nafees, the BCB’s cricket-operation in-charge, confirmed the news, stating that the bowler has recovered well and is now fit to return to competitive play. His availability provides a much-needed option for the team management as they finalize their squad plans for the remainder of the tour.
Meanwhile, the team is closely monitoring the progress of wicketkeeper-batter Litton Kumar Das, who is also working through an injury ahead of the first Test at Darwin’s Marrara Cricket Ground, scheduled for Thursday, August 13. During Tuesday’s training session, the 31-year-old participated in football and fielding drills, including slip-catching and wicketkeeping practice, though he sat out the batting session.
Fielding coach Ashiqur Rahman expressed satisfaction with Litton’s movement, noting, “You saw Litton taking slip catches and keeping wickets, and his movement was very good. Alhamdulillah.” Ashiqur emphasized that the team is prioritizing concentration, which he identified as the most critical factor for success in the longer format of the game. He explained that because opportunities in Test cricket can be infrequent, players must remain mentally sharp to capitalize on every chance that comes their way.
“The biggest thing is to maintain concentration. In longer-version cricket, the ball does not come for a long time, but when one comes, you have to take that one,” Ashiqur said. He added that the coaching staff is actively working on strategies to enhance player focus and ensure the squad is mentally prepared to compete throughout the two-match series. “Our players are mentally prepared to fight in the Test,” he concluded.
