Bangladesh Test skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto is preparing to fly out to the United Arab Emirates on October 6, raising hopes for his participation in the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan. Shanto was previously sidelined from the Asian Games campaign due to a persistent fever, which prevented him from traveling with the rest of the squad to the UAE earlier.
BCB chief selector Habibul Bashar confirmed that the captain has not been ruled out of the contest, which is scheduled for October 9 to 13 at the Sheikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. According to Bashar, the team is optimistic about his availability, noting that the player is currently in good condition. Regarding his health, the chief selector stated, “I am hopeful that he will be available for the opening Test against Afghanistan. He hasn’t been ruled out yet and I’ve spoken with him. But now he’s feeling alright and overall he’s in good shape.”
Shanto’s health issues began during the team’s visit to Japan, where the fever persisted for several days and forced his return home. Medical testing for his low-grade fever confirmed an infection, though results were negative for both influenza and COVID-19. Bashar explained that the travel and limited food options during the Japan trip had contributed to the player feeling physically weakened.
Following the conclusion of the Test match in Abu Dhabi, Shanto is also expected to play a vital role for Bangladesh in an ODI tri-series. The tournament, which features Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, is set to run from October 17 to 23. The opening matches of the ODI series will take place in Abu Dhabi, before the teams transition to Sharjah to complete the remainder of the fixture.
