Najmul Hossain Shanto has been ruled out of the Asian Games due to fever. He has returned to Bangladesh from Japan.
Bangladesh’s Afghanistan tour is now close. The Test team is scheduled to face Afghanistan under Shanto’s leadership. But there is now doubt over whether the Bangladesh captain will be fit in time. Cricket Operations in-charge Shahriar Nafees, however, remains hopeful.
Bangladesh are currently fourth in the World Test Championship standings under Shanto’s captaincy. They still have a chance of reaching the WTC final. But the road ahead is tough. Bangladesh will need strong performances as a team to keep that chance alive.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play a one-off Test against Afghanistan. The match is not part of the World Test Championship. But it will be an important test for the team ahead of the challenges to come.
Shanto is one of Bangladesh’s key batters. His absence would be a blow to the team.
But Nafees is hopeful that Shanto will recover in time. “From what we have learned so far and based on the doctor’s assessment, he is improving. We are very hopeful that he will be able to join the team at the appropriate time.”
Shanto is under close medical observation. He was brought back to Bangladesh from Japan as a precaution and to help with his recovery.
Bangladesh are due to leave for the UAE on Thursday for the Afghanistan series. Shanto will not travel with the team initially.
Nafees said, “He will not travel tomorrow, but our official tournament series starts on the 5th. We believe we will have a fully recovered Shanto with us in time, InshaAllah.”
Bangladesh will face Afghanistan in a one-off Test in Abu Dhabi from 9 October. The ODI tri-nation series will then begin on 17 October. Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are the other two teams in the series. The tri-series will run until 23 October.
