Test team to start preparations for Ireland series on November 8

Bangladesh's Test players are set to begin preparations for the upcoming two-match series against Ireland on November 8 in Sylhet, confirmed Bangladesh Cricket Board's cricket operations in-charge, Shahriar Nafees.

"The dedicated Test players will take part in the second round of the National Cricket League (NCL), which starts tomorrow [Saturday]. They will then get two rest days before travelling to Sylhet on November 7," Nafees told The Daily Star. He added that members of the white-ball squad, who are also part of the Test setup, will join the group on the same day.

"The white-ball players will have a few rest days after the West Indies series, as they have been playing continuous cricket over the past few months," he added.

It was learnt that among the Test specialists who were not part of the three-match T20I series against West Indies, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam will not feature for Rajshahi Division in their second-round NCL match against Khulna Division in Mirpur on Saturday.

The two-match Test series against Ireland will begin on November 11 in Sylhet, while the second Test will start on November 19 in Mirpur.

The announcement of the squad and the new Test captain is expected to follow a board of directors' meeting scheduled for November 3.