Shakib Al Hasan is set to play his farewell Test at Mirpur, as he was included in the Bangladesh squad for the first of the two-Test series against South Africa, which was announced by BCB on Wednesday.
There was only one change from the squad that toured India for two Tests in September-October.
Pacer Khaled Ahmed has been snubbed as the Gazi Ahraf Hossain-led selector panel reduced the squad from 16 members to 15 for the home Test series, which begins at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on October 21.
Khaled played in the second Test in Kanpur which Bangladesh lost by seven wickets and suffer a 2-0 clean sweep.聽
The right arm pacer bowled only four overs in the first innings and conceded 43 runs without taking any wicket, where India scored 285-9d from just 34.4 overs.
But all eyes will be on Shakib in Mirpur.
The former captain expressed his wish to retire from the longer version of the game with the Mirpur Test during the India tour.
However, the former MP of the now fallen Awami League government, there was speculation whether he would get a chance to return to the country as he has an alleged murder case filed against him.
Shakib also stated that he wanted a safe exit from the country. Shakib is yet to return to Bangladesh after ousting the former autocrat government.
Later, the adviser for the ministry of youth and sports, Asif Mahmud, assured that there would be no hindrance for Shakib to come and play and then leave the country.
Shakib now resides in the USA with his family.
Basically, the speech from Asif cleared up the speculation around Shakib. And the team announced on Wednesday that he would get a farewell from the Test, the format where he represented Bangladesh 71 times till now.
The star all-rounder will reportedly reach the country today.
Hannan Sarker, one of the national selectors, has said that they selected Shakib after getting the nod from the BCB.
鈥榃e all know that Shakib expressed his desire to play his last Test in Mirpur. But we all know that this was an issue of the government and the cricket board,鈥� he said in a video interview with the BCB.
鈥楪enerally, we the selectors, try to get the clearance especially from the cricket board. When the board gives the clearance that that particular player is available, then we select him. Naturally we have selected Shakib after the board gave the green signal.鈥�
Hannan also hoped that Shakib鈥檚 farewell Test would be a memorable one for Bangladesh cricket.
鈥業t is a matter of joy that a legend of ours will get the opportunity to bid farewell from what is called our home of cricket鈥擬irpur鈥�, he said.
鈥業t鈥檚 an achievement for both him and us鈥攖he people of Bangladesh.
鈥業 hope that this match will be a memorable one for us, where Shakib will perform well for Bangladesh cricket. So all the best to Shakib鈥�, he added.
Meanwhile, Phil Simmons, the new head coach of Bangladesh, arrived in the country on Wednesday.
The former coach of the West Indies, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan was named the head coach of Bangladesh on an interim basis after BCB suspended Chandika Hathurusingha on disciplinary grounds.
Simmons reached Bangladesh with the touring South Africa team on Wednesday morning from Dubai.
Simmons later came to the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, where he met the likes of Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Liton Das, Nahid Rana, and several assistant coaches.
He will begin his duty on Friday, when the first official practice session for the forthcoming Test series under the ICC Test Championship will commence.
The Proteas will also take a rest today and begin their practice on Friday. They will miss their regular captain, Temba Bahuma, who was ruled out from the first Test due to an injury that he sustained during the ODI series against Ireland.
The second Test of the series will be held at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram from October 29 to November 2.
Squad for the first Test: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das (WK), Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Nahid Rana.
