New Delhi: Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is in fray to play in the second Test against India despite concerns over his fitness due to a hand injury suffered in the first match.
India beat Bangladesh by 280 runs in Chennai in which the 37-year-old sustained a finger injury as he failed to make any impression in the match.
Shakib was hurt while negotiating the pace of Jasprit Bumrah and with the second match beginning from September 27 in Kanpur, there were doubts over his availability.
“At the moment, I haven’t heard from my physio or from anyone. He is still eligible for selection,” Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe said on Wednesday.
Though he couldn’t display the usual standards set by him, Hathurusinghe praised the left hander for putting up resistance to India bowlers, scoring 32 off 64 balls in the first innings and 25 off 56 in the second.
Bur Shakib’s recent form has been worrying, managing only 15, 2 and 21 not out during his three outings in a two-match series against Pakistan though Hathurusinghe isn’t willing to look to much into it.
“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,” he said.
“He batted really well in the second innings. He couldn’t go on, not because of lack of pride. It’s the sheer quality of the opposition.”
‘Batters didn’t convert starts’
More than Shakib, Hathurusinghe was concerned about his team’s top-order batting that failed to convert starts into big scores.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (20), Shakib (32) couldn’t carry on in the first innings wile in the second innings only Shanto (82), Zakir Hasan (35) and Shadman Islam (35) got going but couldn’t make enough dent.
“We are a bit concerned. We normally talk about if you get a start, make it big. That’s the biggest concern because some of the guys got 30 balls. And then in cricket, it’s the hardest thing to get in,” Hathurusinghe said.
“But then this team, India, is posing different challenges. So we know that as well. So we have to bat for longer.”
India beat Bangladesh by 280 runs in Chennai in which the 37-year-old Shkaib Al Hasan sustained a finger injury Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
