Shakib back in Tigers squad for 1st Test against Sri Lanka
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday announced a 16-member team for the first Test against Sri Lanka, keeping Shakib Al Hasan in the squad.
The ace allrounder missed the Bangladesh's last two Test series against New Zealand and South Africa. While he skipped the New Zealand tour, he had to return to country from South Africa after most of his family members including his two kids were hospitalized due to various illness.
The first Test is from May 15-19 at Zahur Ahmed Chowhdury Stadium while the second Test is in Dhaka Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium from May 23-27. The selectors will announce the team of the second Test later. Both of the Tests are the part of ICC World Test Championship.
Earlier Shakib, who was granted a leave from South Africa tour, returned to the fold in a dramatic decision and played a key role in helping Bangladesh win their first ever ODI win series on South African soil.
Shakib, however, last played a Test series against Pakistan at home in last year.
The BCB also kept uncapped fast bowler Rejaur Rahman Raja in the squad. The young pacer was also named in the squad for the Pakistan Test series last year but is yet to make debut.
However, there was no place for opener Shadman Islam who has been in a prolonged bad patch and pacer Abu Jayed Rahi in the squad. Team's No. 1 fast bowler at this moment, Taskin Ahmed is still recovering from his shoulder injury.
But left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam was drafted in the squad subject to fitness after he didn't play the Tests in South Africa due to an ankle injury.
However, there is minor injury concerns in the team with Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, both injuring themselves during their Dhaka Premier League (DPL) match in Savar. But chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu said that their injuries are not serious.
"Miraz has a finger injury which required 8-10 days to recover. So, we hope we'll get him from the first match. We haven't got anything official yet on Mushfiqur Rahim. As far as I am concerned the seriousness and the extent of his injury will be known only after 24 hours," Abdein said here today.
He also hoped that Shoriful will be available for the first Test.
"Shoriful is not fully fit but still we hope we'll get his service from the first Test. Since we will be playing the Test series at home, we need three fast bowlers at our disposal. In this sense, we kept Rejaur Rahman Raja as the backup pacer. We saw him in BKSP. He possessed good pace."
Abedin also opened up about Abu Jayed Rahi, who was dropped without any logical reason. Rahi who was considered as Bangladesh's first choice pacer in longer version format lost his place, specially after the emergence of Taskin as a Test fast bowler.
"We actually considered Rahi when condition offered swing. He is basically a swing bowler but since we'll play at home, I don't think he will get enough help to swing the ball here," he said.
The chief selector said that they also discussed about Mustafizur Rahim who is now busy playing IPL. Even though he was given NOC for whole IPL, the BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon yesterday said, Mustafizur will have to back to play for Bangladesh if his service is needed at any moment.
Abedin said if they feel that Mustafizur's service is needed, they will call him up for the second Test.
"We have discussed about Mustafizur. For the time being, we have just given the team of the first Test. If we need him, we'll call him up for the second Test," he remarked.
Squad:
Mominul Haque (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shohidul Islam, Shoriful Islam (subject to fitness)
