DHAKA: Bangladesh has made two alterations to their 15-member squad ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Chattogram.
Shakib Al Hasan’s return to the squad for the upcoming match on 30 March provides a significant boost to Bangladesh’s aspirations of leveling the Test series against Sri Lanka. Shakib is set to make his international comeback after a hiatus since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in November 2023, during which he sustained a left index finger injury, forcing him to exit the campaign prematurely ahead of Bangladesh’s final World Cup fixture against Australia.
Following a diagnosis of a retinal condition earlier this year in January, the Bangladesh medical team expressed optimism regarding the management of Shakib’s condition through a conservative approach. His inclusion in the squad sees Tawhid Hridoy making way, who was part of the 15-member squad for the initial encounter but didn’t feature in the playing XI.
In another alteration, Hasan Mahmud replaces Mushfik Hasan in the squad due to the latter’s left ankle injury. Although Hasan Mahmud brings substantial experience from his 39 appearances in ODIs and T20Is for Bangladesh, he is yet to make his Test debut.
The revised Bangladesh squad for the second Test includes Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Litton Das, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Nahid Rana, and Hasan Mahmud.
With these changes energizing the team, Bangladesh is eager to stage a comeback in the series following Sri Lanka’s dominant performance in the first Test. In that encounter, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis showcased exceptional batting prowess, amassing centuries in both innings. Conversely, Bangladesh struggled with the bat, failing to breach the 200-run mark in either innings and suffering a heavy defeat by 328 runs.
The second Test in Chattogram presents a crucial opportunity for both sides to claim valuable WTC25 points, as they are currently tied at 6th place in the standings with a point percentage of 33.33.
