Shakib returns in Tigers’ Test squad for Windies series

Despite a wave of controversy regarding off-field incidents, Shakib Al Hasan was relieved to finally be at the Home of Cricket in Mirpur on November 9, 2020, after more than a year due to his suspension from all forms of cricket

Sports desk: Premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was named in Bangladesh’s 18-member Test squad, announced by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today ahead of the two-Test series against the West Indies starting from February 3 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) in Chattogram. 

Opener Shadman Islam also made a come back to the Test squad after injury had sidelined him during Tigers’ last one-off Test against Zimbabwe in February, 2020.

Shakib, who returned after serving a year-long ban imposed by the ICC in 2019 for the all-rounder’s failure in reporting corrupt approaches and was also reinstated to the international arena through the three-match ODI series against the West Indies earlier this month, is now set to return to playing Tests for the Tigers.

The last time Shakib played a Test was back in September, 2019 during the Tigers’ one-off Test against Afghanistan. Bangladesh, captained by Shakib, suffered a 224-run thumping in that game.

There were however speculations over Shakib’s availability for the first Test against the West Indies as the premier all-rounder suffered a groin injury during the third and final ODI against the Caribbean outfit. The 33-year-old had however recovered from the injury and joined the Tigers in today’s practice session at the ZACS.