All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan returns to the Bangladesh Test squad as he is placed in the 18-man squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies.
There was an injury cloud over Shakib, who suffered a back injury during the final ODI. Although the BCB physician remained optimistic about his availability for the test, as the scan did not indicate any tear in the groin area, Shakib joined his teammates for the practice session before the test until Saturday (30 January) Did not happen.
BCB chief selector Minhul Abedin told Cricbuzz that we believe Shakib is desperate to play. We are confident that he will be available for the Test series. We are waiting how he will feel after bowling tomorrow (Sunday). “This is test cricket and that’s why we are confident because he can relax in a T20 or ODI where you are playing with the same intensity as opposed to him.”
Bangladesh had earlier named the 20-member provisional Test team, which had been practicing since the conclusion of the ODI series, while Shakib opted to rest. But he participated in the session on Saturday, although he batted in the nets against most spinners while others were involved in match scenarios.
But his presence in the condensed team is an indication that the 33-year-old has recovered a lot and is likely to play a role in the Test. Nurul Hasan and Khalid Ahmad remain from the Provisional Squad, while Shadman Islam, who missed the Zimbabwe series, is also making a comeback.
The first Test is scheduled to begin in Chattogram on February 3, while the second Test will be played in Dhaka from February 11. It will be Bangladesh’s first Test assignment since their innings victory against Zimbabwe at home in February 2020.
Squads: Mominul Haq (C), Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Najmul Hussain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Linton Das, Yasir Ali, Saif Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Taizul Islam, Shadman Islam, and Nadine Islam. Ahmed, Abu Zayed, Ebadat Hussain, Hasan Mehmood
