'We have to discuss it with him' - BCB pondering over reinstating Shakib Al Hasan as Test captain

Bangladesh Cricket Board is contemplating the re-appointment of Shakib Al Hasan as the Test captain. The veteran all-rounder is the most experienced player in the squad and has led the team previously, which makes him the obvious choice. However, the board is concerned about the availability of the veteran all-rounder.

Mominul Haque, who took the captaincy from Shakib Al Hasan in 2019, has opted to step down after losing the Test series against Sri Lanka. Haque has sighted the recent dip in his form as the reason behind his decision to relinquish the role of captain.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Nazmul Hasan is positive about appointing Shakib the captain, but he is skeptical about the availability of the former top-ranked Test all-rounder.

“Shakib can be a skipper in any format. But we need to know whether he will play or not (Test cricket regularly). If he says that he won’t go or choose a format then it will be a problem. Shakib was our skipper and there is no doubt about his captaincy. But we also need to be sure about his availability,” Nazmul told Cricbuzz.

Shakib Al Hasan has to make up his mind about the leadership role: Nazmul Hasan

Shakib, who made his comeback to Test cricket in the recently concluded series against Sri Lanka, is the front runner for the captaincy role. However, the southpaw’s absence from the game in recent years has hindered his bid. Shakib, who led the Bangladesh Test team on several occasions, gave away the captaincy to Mominul Haque after he was handed a one-year ban by ICC in 2019.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board needs to think it out thoroughly before making a decision, opined Nazmul Hasan. “He cannot make last-minute decisions about his availability when he is the captain. We have to discuss it with him first. We cannot make someone a captain on a whim and so have to take a well-thought-out (decision),” Nazmul added.

Apart from Shakib, Bangladesh’s Liton Das is also thought to be in contention for the role after his impressive batting display in the recently concluded series against Sri Lanka.