Live Update: Najmul Hossain Shanto is expected to join the Bangladesh squad ahead of the Afghanistan Test. Bangladesh ctain Najmul Hossain Shanto is expected to arrive in the UAE on October 6 after missing participation in the Asian Games due to fever.
Najmul Hossain Shanto is expected to join the Bangladesh team ahead of the Afghanistan Test (Source: Robert Cianflone/) Bangladesh ctain Najmul Hossain Shanto is expected to join his team in the United Arab Emirates on October 6, just days before the one-off Test against Afghanistan begins on October 9 at the Sheikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Shanto was unable to travel to the United Arab Emirates with his teammates after falling ill during the Asian Games in Bangladesh in January. BCB medical staff confirmed infection after testing, although flu and COVID-19 were ruled out.
He remained in his hotel room during this entire time and was unable to leave the hotel with the rest of the tour. “I hope he will be available for the opening Test against Afghanistan. He hasn’t been ruled out yet and I’ve spoken to him.
When you have a fever like that your body becomes weak and in January he was stuck in the hotel and had difficulty eating in the hotel because he couldn’t go out. But now he feels good and overall he is doing well,” BCB chief selector Habibul Bashar was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. After landing from Bangladesh in January, Shanto developed a mild fever, which kept him in his hotel room for a long time.
The restricted environment made recovery difficult. The one-off Test between Afghanistan and Bangladesh is scheduled to be played from October 9 to 13 at the Sheikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The Test will be followed by an ODI tri-series involving Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, scheduled to take place from October 17 to 23.
Shanto is expected to play a key role in all three series provided he fully recovers from the illness that ruled him out of the Asian Games. The first two matches of the tri-series will be played in Abu Dhabi while the remaining matches will be played in Sharjah. Bangladesh will be hoping Shanto returns to full fitness as they prepare for a busy white-ball schedule after the one-off Test.
His leadership and impact will be important for the team as they look to put in strong performances in the upcoming games in the UAE.
