Bangladesh’s legendary all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is set to make his long-awaited return to the national team for the first Test against South Africa, marking his first appearance in the country since May. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed his inclusion in the squad for the October 21 clash at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.
Shakib, who had announced his retirement from Test cricket in September during the series in Kanpur, expressed his desire to play his final Test match at home. His return comes amid concerns over his safety, given the political unrest in the country following the resignation of the Awami League government in August. Shakib, a former member of parliament from Magura, had been named in an FIR in connection with a murder during the recent political protests. Despite these concerns, Bangladesh’s interim government assured the cricketer that he was unlikely to face arrest, with the BCB granting clearance for his inclusion in the squad.
The selectors, led by Hannan Sarkar, confirmed that Shakib’s return was only possible after receiving a green light from the BCB and government authorities. “Shakib had expressed his desire to play his final Test at home,” said Sarkar. “We also know that this was a government issue and BCB issue. We sought the BCB’s clearance, so when they gave us the green signal that Shakib was available for selection, we picked him. We are proud to see our legend retiring from the home of cricket.”
Shakib’s arrival in Dhaka on Thursday will give him three days to prepare for the Test. Despite the challenges surrounding his return, the veteran all-rounder will be keen to end his illustrious Test career on a high note, playing in front of his home crowd.
The squad named for the first Test against South Africa reflects continuity from recent tours, with several key players retained, including opening batsmen Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan, along with the experienced trio of Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. Bangladesh’s batting order will be bolstered by Shakib, along with wicketkeeper-batsman Litton Das and all-rounder Mehidy Hasan.
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The spin department will have plenty of options, with Shakib, Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan, and Nayeem Hasan all part of the squad. Bangladesh is expected to go with a spin-heavy attack, with Taijul and Mehidy likely to play key roles in the home conditions. The pace department will likely see Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud leading the charge, with Nahid Rana also a potential option for the Test.
The two-Test series against South Africa marks a fresh chapter for Bangladesh under interim coach Phil Simmons, who joined the team last week following the dismissal of Chandika Hathurusinghe. The Bangladesh squad will be eager to improve on their current seventh-place standing in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, following a mixed result in their recent outings. The Tigers secured a 2-0 victory in Pakistan but were defeated 2-0 in India.
South Africa, who are fifth on the WTC standings, arrived in Bangladesh after winning a 1-0 series in the West Indies in August. Their formidable pace attack and experienced batting lineup will pose a significant challenge for the hosts as they aim to round off their Test season on a strong note.
The first Test is scheduled to begin in Mirpur on October 21, followed by the second match in Chattogram on October 29. With Shakib’s return, the Bangladesh team will be hoping to make a strong statement and send their iconic all-rounder off in style.
Bangladesh squad for first Test against SA
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana