IND vs BAN 2024: Shakib Al Hasan is available for selection for Kanpur Test, confirms Chandika Hathurusingha

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was dealing with a finger injury during the first Test against India in MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Due to this, there were doubts if the cricketer would feature in the second Test in Kanpur, slated to begin on September 27. However, head coach Chandika Hathurusingha confirmed that Shakib is doing fine and is available for selection.

He mentioned that Shakib didn’t raise any issue about being injured and neither did the physio tell him about it. The former Sri Lanka international expects Shakib to feature in the net Test and make an impact as Bangladesh are currently trailing in the series.

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“I have not heard anything on Shakib regarding any complaints. About Shakib Al Hasan there is no doubt at the moment. I haven't heard from my physio or anyone, so he is eligible for selection,” Hathurusingha was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

Shakib’s poor form impacted Bangladesh in first Test

Courtesy of playing a lot of cricket in India, Shakib was expected to be a threat to the Rohit Sharma-led side in the first Test. In reality, the cricketer wasn’t used enough with the ball in the first innings and in the second, he proved to be very costly, leaking 79 runs in 13 overs. With the bat, the 37-year-old scored 32 and 25 runs respectively as Bangladesh lost by 280 runs.

Being one of the most senior players in the squad and a leader of the dressing room, he would hope to bounce back and make valuable contributions in the coming game. He has played nine Test matches against India so far and has scored 433 runs at an average of 27.06. For Bangladesh to get the job done, Shakib needs to get better and given that he’s a good player of spin, all eyes will be on the cricketer in the upcoming game.