As confirmed by Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, Shakib Al Hasan is available for selection for the second Test against India, as concerns regarding his fitness, post-injury, are overstating.
While receiving treatment from an Indian Physio in Chennai, Shakib twisted his finger while attempting a catch from India’s pacer Jasprit Bumrah. The second test is supposed to get underway on Friday.
This 37-year-old spin all-rounder came on to bowl at the end of second Test Indian innings where he was brought on the attack quiet late which was too late bolwer he did bowled to bowl in the middle of the innings.
“In the present day, I have not heard from my physio or from anyone, at this point he is still eligible for selection” equal to what hathurusinghe was reported as saying after the teams first training in India especially in Kanpur, PTI.
In the second innings, Shakib went aggression control mode and scored 25 off 56 balls fighting a terrifically reputed Indian team, the Coach also praised him. He was top scorer for the tour team in the first innings with 32 off 64 balls.
But Shakib has not played well recently. This was during Bangladesh’s historic Test series against Pakistan, and he underperformed with the bat. In three games, he tallied only 15, 2, and 21 not out respectively.
In his previous T20 and first class outings against different sides, he scored 12, 0, 36, 4, 1, 24, 2 respectively.
Still, Hathurusinghe admitted he had a worrying concern towards Shakib with the bat, but he came round.
“I am not upset about his performance. All the matches overall, we could have done better. I am sure that he also believes otherwise. After all, we all know what he is capable of.”
“He batted really well in the second innings. He could not go on, not for need of pride. It is just that the quality of the opposition is very high means,” as he supported the elder player.
Hathurusinghe also, in a hurry, reconfirmed that even though there are ongoing political instability and rioting in their home country which has brought a backlash in India, the tourists are not bothered about their security.
“Security is not a worry for us. I believe the Indian board takes care of that.”
