Bangladeshlegendary all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasanwill not take part in the upcoming first Test South AfricaIt will be held on October 21 at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
Shakib Al Hasan’s absence from the 1st Test against South Africa
This Test match was supposed to be Shakib’s farewell game as he had announced his retirement from Test cricket in September. Despite plans to come to terms with the format in front of his home fans, the 37-year-old has pulled out due to the violent protests currently taking place in Bangladesh, which have raised concerns about his safety. Shakib had initially expressed his desire to play one last Test, asking his fans to be there, but due to the strained situation, he will now miss out on a grand farewell at home.
Change announced: A new chapter for Bangladesh cricket
Considering Shakib’s unavailability, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) he chose the left-arm spinner Hassan Murad As his replacement for the first test against South Africa. Although uncapped at Test level, Murad has shown great potential in domestic cricket. Since his debut in 2021, Murad has scored 136 runs in just 30 first-class matches, earning him a place in Bangladesh’s Test squad. He also represented the nation Asian Games 2023participating in two T20I matches. Murad’s selection marks a new chapter for Bangladesh cricket as they look for up-and-coming talent to replace a seasoned all-rounder like Shakib.
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BCB accepts the legacy but stresses the need for a balanced team
While acknowledging Shakib’s immense contributions to Bangladesh cricket, the BCB admitted that there is currently no player in the squad who can match his caliber with both bat and ball. Shakib’s absence leaves a significant gap not only in terms of cricketing skills but also in terms of experience and leadership. However, BCB will hope that the inclusion of Hasan Murad will give the team the necessary support, especially in the spin department, as they face a formidable South African side. With Murad’s first-class experience and promising talent, the board believes Bangladesh can remain competitive in the two-match Test series.
“We have been informed that Shakib is unavailable for the first Test. He is at the end of his Test career, but along with his experience, we still don’t have someone of that caliber with both bat and ball to replace him. However, Hasan Murad has been consistent in first-class cricket and has been in our system. He will give balance to our bowling especially at home. We believe that he has the potential to perform at this level.” BCB chairman said this in his statement.
