Shakib returns for second Test against Sri Lanka

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has announced the squad for the second and final Test match against Sri Lanka which gets underway in Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium this Saturday.

Shakib al Hasan has returned to the Test fold after a gap of one year.

The star all-rounder last played a Test in April 2023 when Bangladesh met Ireland in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Towhid Hridoy, who was drafted in the 15-member squad for the first Test, misses out due to the inclusion of Shakib.

Also out is pacer Mushfik Hasan who has picked up an injury on his left ankle which will require rehab.

His replacement is fellow right-arm paceman Hasan Mahmud who has played 39 times for Bangladesh in white-ball cricket but is yet to feature in a Test.

Mahmud has taken 49 wickets from 16 first-class outings.

Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Sylhet by 328 runs.

The Test series is a part of the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle.

Squad

Nazmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Liton Das, Mominul Haque, Shakib al Hasan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud