Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has confirmed that Shakib Al Hasan remains eligible for selection for the second Test against India, scheduled to take place in Kanpur.
Despite concerns about his form and fitness, including a finger surgery that has impacted his bowling, Shakib has not officially been ruled out. During the first Test in Chennai, Shakib bowled seven overs but struggled against India’s batting lineup, conceding several boundaries to Rishabh Pant.
Shakib’s year has been challenging, with only 295 runs across 18 innings and 18 wickets at an average of 39.88. His performance was limited in the first Test due to issues with both his shoulder and his surgically repaired finger, according to commentary from Murali Karthik.
Despite these challenges, Hathurusingha expressed confidence in Shakib’s abilities and was not overly concerned with his individual performance, instead focusing on the team’s overall need to improve.
