Bangladesh hit by Ebadot Hossain blow ahead of Australia Test series

Bangladesh have suffered a major setback ahead of next month's Test series against Australia, with pacer Ebadot Hossain set to miss the tour. The two-match series, beginning in Darwin on August 13, forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.

Ebadot will remain in Bangladesh as he prepares to welcome his first child. Meanwhile, the visitors are also sweating over the availability of fast bowler Nahid Rana, who is awaiting the results of scans on a side injury and remains doubtful for the opening Test. There is, however, optimism that wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das will recover from a calf injury in time for the series.

Bangladesh will arrive in Australia early next month and will play a three-day warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin from August 3. The practice fixture will provide valuable preparation ahead of the opening Test at the same venue. Batting coach Mohammad Ashraful is hopeful that all the injured players will recover in time, giving Bangladesh a full-strength squad for the series.

"It will be tough in Australia, but the positive is that we will travel there early...10-12 days in advance. We will have the opportunity to play a three-day practice match, and hopefully, if all our players are fit, we will be able to perform well there," said Ashraful as quoted by ICC.

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Ashraful expressed confidence in Bangladesh's batting unit despite its struggles in the recent Test against Zimbabwe in Harare, where the side was bowled out cheaply in a heavy defeat. He believes the batters can bounce back against Australia, pointing to their impressive performances during Bangladesh's historic 2-0 Test series sweep over Pakistan earlier this year.

"Our batters did really well over the last seven months. One series can go wrong; one Test match went bad, but in the four Tests before that, our batters played extremely well," Ashraful said.

"See, we can lose one or two games in different conditions. After playing so well over the last seven months, there is no reason to be demoralised after losing one or two matches, I believe. Obviously, they have gained experience from playing in different conditions," he concluded.