Amid heavy speculation, all-rounder Shakib al Hasan got included for the first Test between South Africa and hosts Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Cricket Board’s national selection panel led by Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu Wednesday declared a 15-member squad for the first Test against the Proteas, scheduled to begin this Monday at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
The Mirpur Test is set to be Shakib’s farewell game in longer version cricket.
It was earlier reported in the media that Shakib is likely to return to Bangladesh Thursday.
Shakib upon his return will immediately board the team hotel in Dhaka and start training at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from Friday.
The 37-year old is returning to the country for the first time since July and also following the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led government to which he was a Member of Parliament.
Shakib left the country on July 2 to play for Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket in USA and since then, a lot has changed in Bangladesh.
For his identity as Awami League MP, Shakib’s return to the country has been controversial.
There was demonstration in front of the BCB office and protests were ongoing at TSC in Dhaka University when this report was filed.
Shakib expressed wish to play his last Test in front of the home crowed when he announced retirement from Test and Twenty20 International cricket in Kanpur, India last month.
During the call of his retirement, he had also requested assurance from the Bangladesh government for safe exit from the country.
Meanwhile, the squad for the first Test saw pacer Khaled Ahmed, who was part of the two-match Test series in India, get dropped.
The two-match Test series against South Africa is part of the World Test Championship.
The second game will begin on October 29 in Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Bangladesh squad for 1st Test: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib al Hasan, Liton Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana
