Shakib returns to lead Bangladesh in first Windies Test

Shakib Al Hasan has been named in Bangladesh's 13-man squad for the first Test against Windies, starting from November 22 in Chittagong.

The star all-rounder has been out of action since returning home midway through the Asia Cup with a long-standing finger injury that needed surgery. There were question marks over his participation in the multi-team event in UAE in September, and a back-and-forth of comments ensued between him and the BCB chief Nazmul Hasan regarding his fitness levels. Eventually, he decided to postpone his surgery and played, and ended up aggravating it further.

He left before Bangladesh's Super Four game against Pakistan, which they won, and also missed the close final against India. The surgery and rehabilitation meant he missed the home series against Zimbabwe where the hosts suffered an embarrassing defeat in the first Test before managing to draw the two-Test series, according to Cricbuzz report.

During his time away, Shakib feared his left little finger might never heal completely again, but in a massive shot in the arm for the hosts, he has passed fit to be part of the squad.

Another big-name inclusion in the squad is of Soumya Sarkar, whose last Test appearance came on the tour of South Africa in 2017. BCB has also drafted in 18-year-old offbreak bowler Naeem Hasan.

Liton Das, who scored a grand total of 47 runs in four innings against Zimbabwe, has been axed, as has Abu Jayed, who was replaced after the first Test against Zimbabwe in Sylhet. Shafiul Islam has also been omitted, after he didn't get game time in the recent home series. There was also no room for left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam, who debuted in the Sylhet Test but didn't play in Dhaka.

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Mithun, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Ariful Haque, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Naeem Hasan.