Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe has put an end to speculation about star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s finger injury, confirming his availability for the crucial second Test against India at the Green Park Stadium.
Hathurusinghe addressed the rumors on Wednesday, stating emphatically, “There is no doubt. At the moment I have not heard anything about any sort of injury – neither from the physio, nor from anyone else. And, he is eligible for selection.”
Shakib sustained the finger injury during the first Test in Chennai while batting, hit by a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah. While he didn’t bowl extensively in the match, managing just 21 overs across both innings, Shakib’s batting performance has also been a cause for concern recently. He scored 32 and 25 in the Chennai Test, following a subdued series against Pakistan where he amassed only 38 runs in three innings.
However, Hathurusinghe remains confident in Shakib’s abilities, saying, “I’m not upset about his performance, but our overall performance. We all know what he (Shakib) is capable of.” He specifically praised Shakib’s second-innings batting in Chennai, attributing his limited contribution to the quality of the Indian bowling attack rather than any lack of effort.
Looking ahead to the second Test, the Green Park wicket is expected to offer something for both spinners and seamers, a departure from its traditional spin-friendly nature. Hathurusinghe indicated that a final decision on the playing surface will be made on the eve of the match, with two pitches prepared for the game.
Following their historic first-ever Test series win against Pakistan, Bangladesh suffered a disappointing defeat in the first Test against India. But ahead of the series decider, Hathurusinghe is emphasizing the importance of playing for the country as the primary motivation for the team. He acknowledged the need for improvement in the team’s performance, stating, “For me, the motivation is playing for your country. But there’s a difference between motivation and you not playing according to your potential. We learned that from the last game.”
With Shakib’s confirmed availability and the team’s renewed focus, Bangladesh will be looking to bounce back in the second Test and level the series against India.
