Bangladesh’s bowling Allan Doland has confirmed that skipper Shakib Al Hasan will be available for selection for the second Test against India. The final game of the tour will take place at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Dhaka, starting on Thursday, December 22.
He was taken to the hospital for scans ahead of the first Test but was cleared to compete. Shakib was nursing a rib injury throughout the first Test in Chattogram and didn’t bowl a single over in the second innings.
However, he played a valiant knock of 85 runs in the final innings of the Test match. Despite that, the Bangla Tigers fell short by 188 runs to go 0-1 down in the two-match series. The valiant innings aggravated his injury that cast doubts on his participation but Allan Dolland has cleared the air on his availability. Addressing reporters on the eve of the second Test, he said:
“Shakib’s ok. He will bowl. He was a little bruised and battered in the one-day game here but he has gone through that. First of all, he is available for selection and he is available to bowl. He’s good to go.”
Bangladesh vs India: 2nd Test
Tomorrow, 9:30 AM | 22nd-26th December, 2022 | at SBNCS, Dhaka#BCB | #Cricket | #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/YRIyVuKini
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) December 21, 2022
Shakib Al Hasan was seen training in Mirpur in the build-up to the second Test and did not seem in distress. He was also seen playing football with his teammates in the warm-up.
“He will very much come into play” – Allan Doland on Shakib Al Hasan
Allan Doland further went on to add that Shakib Al Hasan regaining full fitness will be crucial for Bangladesh ahead of the second Test. He also confirmed that they are likely to field the same three spinners in this Test match.
“I think it will be the same three spinners that we have seen and also think we are welcoming back Taskin and then Khaled [Ahmed] as well. That’s probably what I can see happening. The good news is Shakib is good to go and looking at the pitch out there I think he will very much come into play,” Doland concluded.
India will look to continue their winning momentum and keep their hopes alive of making it to the ICC World Test Championship final.
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