BCB undecided on Shakib Al Hasan for Pakistan Test series

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials are still uncertain about including premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in their upcoming two-Test series against Pakistan. Shakib, who is currently participating in the Global T20 Canada, had previously shown interest in playing the Test series, which is set to begin on August 21 in Rawalpindi. He had planned to return to Bangladesh from the USA, where he had been playing in the Major League Cricket, following his NOC from the BCB until August 12.

However, Shakib’s situation has changed after he lost his parliamentary seat on August 6 due to the recent political unrest, which may delay his return to Bangladesh. This uncertainty could potentially affect his selection for the national team. Furthermore, there are concerns about Shakib's readiness for Test cricket, given his recent continuous T20 matches since the home series against Zimbabwe in May.

According to a report by The Daily Star, a BCB official mentioned that the initial concern was whether Shakib could travel to Bangladesh and then Pakistan, but now there are worries about his ability to handle the physical demands of Test cricket after playing T20s. The selectors have struggled to reach Shakib over the past week due to the unrest and are expected to consult with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha in the coming days before finalizing the squad.

The report further added that an 18-member preliminary squad has already been prepared, including Shakib and pacer Taskin Ahmed, but the final 15-member squad will be determined after discussions with the selection panel. Meanwhile, Cricket Operations In-charge Shahriar Nafees has stated that Shakib's inclusion will depend on both his availability and his selection for the series.