Shakib Al Hasan Confirmed for 2024 Bangladesh Test Matches: Chief Selector

Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is confirmed to play all remaining Test matches for Bangladesh in 2024. Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain assures his availability, contributing significantly to series against Pakistan, India, South Africa, and West Indies, all part of the World Test Championship cycle.

Star Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been confirmed to participate in the remaining Test matches scheduled for 2024, according to chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain. Bangladesh is set to play eight Test matches in 2024, which includes four two-match Test series against Pakistan, India, South Africa, and the West Indies, as part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, per the ICC.

"Probably at the end of July, we talked to Shakib and discussed his fitness," Hossain said ahead of the ICC World Test Championship series against Pakistan. "He assured us that he would play all the Tests and attend all practice sessions before each series," he added.

Shakib has participated in only one Test match for Bangladesh in the current WTC cycle and had previously not confirmed his availability beyond the Pakistan series. "There is international cricket and a series against Pakistan, and I am planning only until that point, not beyond that," Shakib said in July before his commitments in the Major League Cricket and Global T20 League in Canada.

Shakib has been included in the Test squad for the Pakistan series, confirmed to play an all-round role. "Globally, Shakib is one of the best all-rounders over the past years, and I maintain that opinion. I cannot consider him solely as a bowler," Hossain stated.

"It was crucial to know if he would be available for all practice sessions before the series, which was a criterion for selection from our perspective. We were scheduled to go to Pakistan a bit later. He will likely join the team on the 14th or 15th and practice with the squad." The WTC series against Pakistan starts on August 21, with the second match commencing on August 30.

Bangladesh Test squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumar Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed. (ANI)