BAN vs PAK: Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed declared fit for second Test, Mohammad Naim receives maiden Test call-up

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and pacer Taskin Ahmed have been added to the team’s squad for the second and final Test against Pakistan, starting December 4 in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Shakib had to sit out of the three-T20I series, which visitors won 3-0, while he missed the first Test in Chattogram too. However, he has been given the nod for the last encounter of the series by the BCB medical staff. The all-rounder had also missed the last two games at the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates due to his hamstring injury.

Pacer Taskin, meanwhile, who missed the first Test after injuring his finger in the third and final T20I against Pakistan on November 22, also returns to add some strength to the injury-hit team, as Shoriful Islam is nursing a back injury, while Tamim Iqbal is absent due to a fractured thumb.

Bangladesh have let out maiden Test call-up for opener Mohammad Naim, who has represented the team thus far in 32 T20Is and two ODIs. No member from the squad for the first Test has been dropped.

Pakistan currently lead the series 1-0, having won the Chattogram Test by eight wickets, with the upcoming encounter being the last chance for Bangladesh to at least open their account in the series. With the recent victory, Pakistan have jumped to the second spot in the World Test Championship points tally, while Bangladesh are at the bottom.

“The way Bangladesh played in the first innings that was really good but Shaheen [Afridi] and Hasan [Ali] were outstanding,” Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said after his team’s victory. “That’s the beauty of Test cricket – that it allows you to make a comeback. We didn’t have much time to prepare for the Test but we gave our best. I am really pleased with the way Abdullah Shafique built his innings. Abid Ali was outstanding, scoring tough runs to pull the team out from a difficult position.

Bangladesh Squad for second Pakistan Test: Mominul Haque (c), Shadman Islam, Saif Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Kumar Das, Yasir Ali Rabbi, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi, Nayeem Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Khaled Ahmed, Shohidul Islam, Mohammad Naim Sheikh