The talisman all-around player Shakib Al Hasan’s confirmation that he will be available for the forthcoming tour of Pakistan, where Najmul Hossain Shanto‘s team is slated to play two Test matches, gave Bangladesh a huge boost.
Shakib has high expectations for himself, but his recent international cricket performances have fallen well short of those expectations. Injuries have also impeded his advancement. In the Global T20 Canada League, the seasoned player is presently leading the Bangla Tigers. The competition is scheduled to end on August 11 and the Tigers are ranked second on the points table. In the meanwhile, Bangladesh and Pakistan will play their first Test at Rawalpindi on August 21.
Shakib has indicated his desire to travel to Pakistan, according to Jalal Yunus, chairman of cricket operations for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). He will train for a few days before joining the team.
After our conversation, Shakib confirmed that he is free for the Pakistan series. If he doesn’t have time, he will fly straight out of Dubai, or he may spend a day or two practicing in Dhaka before making the squad. According to The Daily Star, he informed reporters, “He will be available for the Pakistan series.”
The two-match home series that Bangladesh played against Sri Lanka earlier this year was their most recent Test assignment. Shakib was absent from the first Test match but made a comeback for the second match, taking four wickets and scoring 51 runs. Bangladesh would like to make atonement when they return to the longest format of the game after losing both Test matches handily. It’s interesting to note that Shakib has only participated in two Test matches since 2023. In 67 Test matches, the 37-year-old has amassed 4,505 runs and claimed 237 wickets.
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Bangladesh is now languishing at position eight in the World Test Championship (WTC) points standings for the cycle of 2023–2025. As for Pakistan, who are ranked No. 5 and will try to move up the table with a strong showing against Bangladesh.
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