Fit Shakib to lead Bangladesh against Windies in Test series
Uncapped off-spinner Nayem recalled
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
Regular Test captain Shakib Al Hasan will lead Bangladesh in the first Test against West Indies, scheduled to begin on Thursday (November 22), as the ace all-rounder recovered from the long standing finger injury to make the cut.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 13-member squad for only the first Test in the two-match series against West Indies, including him. This will be his first match after he was ruled out from the Asia Cup in September due to aggravating his old finger injury.
The team management left the decision to Shakib, who began batting in the nets last week in an attempt to see where he stands physically as he was completing the rehabilitation programme.
Alongside Shakib, Soumya Sarkar and 17-year-old off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, an uncapped player, were the inclusions in the Bangladesh Test squad that was trimmed to 13 players from the 15-man squad that had been named against Zimbabwe. Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Abu Jayed Rahi, Shafiul Islam and Nazmul Islam Opu were all dropped.
BCB however opted to delay the announcement of the Test squad as they were waiting to see how Shakib responded before the star all-rounder confirmed his availability.
Chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu said that Shakib was fit but needed game time under his belt, while Soumya was picked to resolve Bangladeshs Test opening conundrum, with Tamim Iqbal still recovering from a side strain.
He has no physical problems currently, but he is short of match fitness. But since he is a senior player, we think that he is ready, Minhajul said.
It was a great to see the return of Shakib as we believe his presence bolster the morale of the team to a great extent. I think with passing days he is regaining back his confidence that all the players need when they return to international cricket after an injury lay-off, another selector Habibul Bashar Sumon said.
Soumya effectively replaced Liton who showed glimpses of form in ODIs but has struggled in Test cricket this year. Shanto, Jayed, Shafiul and Nazmul have all been dropped, according to Minhajul, because the selectors wanted a smaller Test squad. These players will be playing in the Bangladesh Cricket League, the first-class tournament which is scheduled to begin next week.
Soumya has done well in the NCL. Our openers have failed in Tests, so we want to give him a chance. Soumya plays fast bowling quite well, Minhajul said.
It is, however, particularly surprising for Jayed, who was Bangladeshs standout bowler July in the West Indies, but is suddenly behind Khaled Ahmed in the selectors pecking order.
Abu Jayed Rahi is not really dropped. We may go with one seam bowler, so theres no point keeping him around the squad. The same goes for Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shafiul Islam and Nazmul Islam Apu, Minhajul said.
Naeem, who was a surprise choice in the Bangladesh Test squad last January, has been picked this time for topping the wicket-takers charts in the NCL, the first-class tournament that concluded last week. Soumya meanwhile last played Tests more than a year ago.
Bashar looked extremely hopeful regarding the new off-spin spin prodigy Naeem Hasan as he believed him as the future prospect while he stated that they will give more time to Nazmul Islam Apu to prepare him for the longer formats.
Bangladesh squad: Sakib Al Hasan (Captain), Soumya Sarker, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Mithun, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Ariful Haque, Mahmudullah, Mehedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed and Naeem Hasan.
