Dhaka: The renowned Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has been officially confirmed to participate in the remaining Test matches scheduled for 2024, with the chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain affirming his availability for the duration of the year.
The Bangladesh cricket team is set to engage in eight Test matches in 2024, comprising four two-match Test series against Pakistan, India, South Africa, and the West Indies. These matches are integral to the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, as sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
"It is anticipated that discussions regarding Shakib's fitness would have taken place towards the end of July," Hossain mentioned prior to the ICC World Test Championship series against Pakistan, as reported by the ICC.
"He assured us of his commitment to play all the Tests and attend every practice session preceding each series," he further added.
Shakib has only participated in a single Test match for Bangladesh within the current World Test Championship cycle and had previously not confirmed his availability for matches beyond the forthcoming series against Pakistan.
"There is international cricket, and there is a series against Pakistan. Until that point, my focus is on the upcoming matches," Shakib stated in July in anticipation of his commitments to the Major League Cricket and Global T20 League in Canada.
Shakib was selected for the Test squad for the Pakistan series and is expected to play a pivotal role.
"Globally, Shakib has established himself as one of the premier all-rounders over the past years, and this is a perspective I hold," Hossain expressed.
"It was crucial for us to ascertain his availability for all the practice sessions before the series, and this was a criterion for our selection process. We had planned to travel to Pakistan a bit later. It is probable that Shakib will join the team around the 14th or 15th, and he will engage in practice sessions with the team."
The World Test Championship series against Pakistan is scheduled to commence on August 21, with the second match kicking off on August 30.
Bangladesh Test squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), 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.
