Dhaka – Test and T20 captain Shakib Al Hasan has returned to the national squad to lead Bangladesh in the first Test against touring West Indies after recovering from his figure injury.
The world famed all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan joined the training session earlier this week after a month-long rehabilitation program, following complications with the injury that he sustained in January this year.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday announced 13-member squad for the first Test against Caribbean beginning on Thursday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium of Chattogram also including opening batsman Soumya Sarkar and teen aged off-spinner Nayeem Hasan.
Soumya played last Tests more than a year ago while Nayeem was added to Bangladesh Test squad in last January. Nayeem was recalled to the squad for achieving top wicket-takers’ position in the NCL, the first-class tournament that concluded last week.
Five cricketers — Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Abu Jayed Rahi, Shafiul Islam and Nazmul Islam Apu-were dropped from the previous 15-man squad that played against Zimbabwe.
Chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu said that Shakib was fit but needs game time under his belt while Soumya was picked to resolve Bangladesh’s Test opening conundrum with Tamim Iqbal, who is still recovering from a side-strain.
“He (Shakib) has no physical problem currently, but he is short of match fitness. As he is a senior player, we think that he is ready,” Minhajul said adding, “Soumya also has done well in the NCL. Our openers have failed to perform their best in Tests, so we want to give him another chance as Soumya plays fast bowling quite well.”
Liton, Shanto, Jayed, Shafiul and Nazmul have all been dropped as the selectors wanted a smaller Test squad and as well as to enable the players to play in the first class cricket and Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) scheduled to begin next week.
Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Mithun, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Ariful Haque, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed and Naeem Hasan.UNB
