Bangladesh’s doctors will decide whether Najmul Hossain Shanto can play against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, chief selector Habibul Bashar said on Sunday, according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
Shanto has recovered from the illness, Bashar said, but the medical team still needs to assess his strength. The captain returned from Japan without playing at the Asian Games.
He faced bowlers in the Mirpur nets on October 4 without discomfort, The Daily Star reported. Most of Bangladesh’s Test squad are already in the UAE.
The match is scheduled for October 9–13 at Zayed Cricket Stadium, according to the Afghanistan Cricket Board. Rahmat Shah will lead Afghanistan in his first assignment as the country’s full-time Test captain.
Afghanistan’s squad includes returning all-rounder Ismat Alam, middle-order batter Shahidullah Kamal and fast bowler Yamin Ahmadzai. Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran remain rested from Test cricket on medical advice, the board said in its October 1 squad announcement.
The Test opens a programme that continues with an ODI tri-series involving Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe from October 17–23.
Sources: BSS; The Daily Star; Afghanistan Cricket Board.
