Liton returns to squad for first Test against Australia after recovering from injury

Wicketkeeper-batter Liton Kumar Das has made a swift recovery from a calf muscle injury to rejoin the Bangladesh squad for the first Test against Australia. Initially expected to return only for the second Test, his positive rehabilitation progress has led the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to include him in the squad for the series opener in Darwin starting August 13.

In a press release on Saturday (August 1), the BCB confirmed Liton's inclusion in the first Test squad after he recovered satisfactorily from the left calf injury he sustained during the third ODI against Australia at home on June 14. The injury kept him out of the subsequent T20I series against Australia and the tour of Zimbabwe.

After undergoing treatment in Bangladesh and Singapore, and following a series of tests, the 31-year-old batsman responded well to his rehabilitation programme and is now eligible for selection for the opening Test. He is scheduled to fly to Darwin on Sunday to join the squad.

Liton's return strengthens Bangladesh's batting line-up for the historic tour, which marks their first Test match on Australian soil in 23 years. He was the Player of the Match in his most recent Test, scoring 126 and 69 in a 72-run victory against Pakistan in Sylhet in June.

With Liton's inclusion, the first Test squad now has 16 members. He joins the team at a time when the bowling attack has been hit by injuries, with fast bowler Nahid Rana ruled out of the series and Shoriful Islam unlikely to feature in the first Test.

Bangladesh squad for the first Test against Australia: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vice-captain), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Musfik Hasan, Litton Kumar Das.