SYLHET, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first Tuesday in the test series opener against New Zealand.

Bangladesh handed a debut to middle-order batter Shahadat Hossain among a series of changes.

Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan returned to the lineup after playing his last test against Sri Lanka last year, opener Zakir Hasan was recalled after missing Bangladesh’s previous test against Afghanistan in June and Nurul Hasan replaced Liton Das, who is on paternity leave.

Bangladesh is without allrounder and captain Shakib Al Hasan and fast bowlers Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed because of injuries.

New Zealand selected Henry Nicholls in a spin-heavy XI after he was cleared of ball-tampering charges.

Lineups:

Bangladesh: Mahmudul Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Shahadat Hossain.

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (captain), Ajaz Patel.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket