On Wednesday, September 25, Chandika Hathurusingha, Bangladesh’s head coach, dismissed concerns about Shakib al Hasan’s availability for the second Test against India, which is slated to start on September 27. Shakib’s availability became a talking point after Jasprit Bumrah struck him with a ball during the first Test match in Chennai, injuring his finger.
After the left-handed hitter played only eight or ten balls in the nets before opting to leave, rumors started to circulate. Based on his body language following the nets practice, he did not appear to be at ease either. The 37-year-old bowled 21 overs throughout the first Test and failed to claim wickets. He was brought into the attack after 50 overs had been bowled in the first innings, leading many to believe he was injured.
No Complaints About Shakib
On Wednesday in Kanpur, Hathurusingha said to reporters, “At the moment, I haven’t heard from my physio or anyone. He is still eligible for selection,” Hathurusingha went on to say that, despite Shakib appearing to be having trouble with the bat lately, he is not concerned about his form. Shakib made just 38 runs in three innings during the two-match series against Pakistan last month.
And he only scored 32 and 25 in the first Test against India. “I am not upset about his performance. Our overall performance, we could have done better. I am sure that he also thinks that he can perform better. We all know what he is capable of.” the coach added. Hathurusingha further emphasized that despite recent security threats, they remain unconcerned.
Before the second Test in Kanpur, security was stepped up because several right-wing parties had urged for the matches to be boycotted in protest of claimed recent attacks on Hindu communities in Bangladesh. Three layers of security—an isolated cordon, an outer cordon, and an outermost cordon—were chosen by the Uttar Pradesh Police to be provided for the teams. Over a thousand law enforcement officials from various branches have been sent to the Test match.
Shakib Adjusting His Game
“We have no concern about the security. We trust that the Indian board is looking after that,” stated the Hathurusinghe. On the other hand, he acknowledged that Shakib needed to change how he played, but he also thought the all-around superstar was putting in a lot of effort. He knows that in the second match, Indian bowlers like R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, and others might be a threat.
Shakib came into this series after a spectacular five-for for Surrey against Somerset in the County Championship match. His tally of 250 wickets in the longest format is just eight wickets away from being accomplished. Bangladesh will try to turn around in the second game of the series, which starts on Friday at Green Park Stadium, after losing the first game by 280 runs.
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