"I am not thinking about his political career" - Najmul Shanto on Shakib's focus following unrest in Bangladesh
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto has asserted that he expects veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to maintain professionalism and focus on the task at hand amid the ongoing political turmoil in their home country. The duo will take the field on Wednesday, August 21, with their teammates for the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Shakib was a Member of Parliament (MP) in the ruling government under Prime Minister Hasina Sheikh, which has now been overthrown following her resignation and escape. The all-rounder contested in the 2024 General Elections and secured a victory by a landslide margin.
The government dissolved after protests kickstarted by students against the reservation system, leading to Shakib losing his post. The all-rounder has made himself available for all international matches moving forward, which is a sign that he wants to completely commit himself to the national cricket team.
"I don't think it will affect him because he's a professional cricketer, and we all treat him as such. He has played this game for so long that he knows his role and how to prepare himself. I am not thinking about his political career, and I hope he will do something special in this series," Shanto said during the pre-match press conference.
Shakib Al Hasan recently played the Global T20 Canada where he led the Bangla Tigers. He made the headlines for not fielding a team for a one-over contest due to poor onfield conditions.
"They are really excited to perform well in these conditions" - Najmul Shanto on Bangladesh pacers
Pakistan have made a statement by naming an all-seam attack for the first Test. Bangladesh, on the other hand, have chosen to decide on their bowling combination decision after assessing the condition on the day of the contest.
The squad features pacers like Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and the returning Taskin Ahmed.
"In the last couple of years, we have had a very good fast bowling unit. We also have three or four quality spinners, so we've covered all aspects. Tomorrow, when we come to the ground, we'll assess the wicket and finalize the team. But as you mentioned, the seamers get a bit of an advantage here, and they are really excited to perform well in these conditions," the skipper said.
"The toss is very important. The players are ready for both batting and bowling, but it's crucial. Personally, I am not thinking about the toss because, as players, we have to be ready for every single situation," he concluded.
Bangladesh are currently placed in the eighth spot of the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings after winning only one out of their first four matches in the cycle.