Shakib Al Hasan may end his fine Test career with a surprise twist. The all-rounder is not available for the first home Test against South Africa and will be replaced by uncapped left-arm spinner Hasan Murad in the match scheduled to start on October 21 in Dhaka, the sources said here on Friday. Shakib could not fly from New York to Dhaka this week, sources said in Bangladesh.
Shakib was held back on his way when uncertainty on if going home was dawned on him as protests continued against him with political unrest in Dhaka. He had been named in the squad originally, and the match was going to be his farewell game back at home.
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There is a bright young star in domestic cricket’s Hasan Murad, who, at 23, has taken as many as 136 wickets in 30 first-class matches since his debut in 2021. He also has a couple of T20Is for Bangladesh under his belt during the Asian Games last year.
Bangladesh Cricket Board’s national selection panel chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain confirmed that Shakib is out. “Although Shakib is at the tail end of his Test career and his experience is invaluable, we think Hasan Murad could offer us balance to our bowling in home conditions. He has fairly performed in first-class cricket, and he has every chance to win matches at this level as well.”
