In July 2011, Robiul was included in the squad for Bangladesh played a one-off Test against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe were returning from a six-year exile from Tests, although Bangladesh had not played in the format in over 14 months.
[4] Robiul Islam remained around the fringes of the Test team, but it was not until March 2013 during Bangladesh's tour to Sri Lanka that he returned to the Test side, when his 29 wickets from 7 FC matches in Bangladesh's domestic tournament caught the attention of the selectors.
Robiul Islam was included in the squad and finished with 15 wickets, costing 19.53 runs each.
This was the most wickets taken by a Bangladesh seam bowler in a Test series, bettering the 12 Shahadat Hossain managed against South Africa in 2008.