IND vs BAN: Shakib Al Hasan boost for Bangladesh ahead of Kanpur Test, confirms coach Chandika Hathurusinghe

Bangladesh have got a huge boost ahead of the second Test match against India as former skipper Shakib Al Hasan is available for selection. The news was confirmed on Wednesday (Sep 25) by head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe when he addressed the media. Shakib, who was reported to be playing in the Chennai Test with a broken finger, will be available for selection for the Kanpur Test thatstarts on Friday (Sep 27).

Shakib available for selection

"At the moment I have not heard anything about any sort of injury -- neither from the physio nor from anyone else," Hathurusinghe told reporters in Kanpur, where the Test will be played.

"And he is eligible for selection. If there are any changes (in the team) then it's depending on the surface."

With reports suggesting his finger injury, the all-rounder’s involvement in the match was in doubt. However, he is now available for selection, with the final call to be taken in the last 24 hours before the match.

Now 37, Shakib brings tons of experience to the table as Bangladesh search for a historic win on Indian soil. They recently beat Pakistan 2-0 on their home turf and will at least look for a draw on Indian soil.

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They lost the opening Test by 280 runs with Ravichandran Ashwin playing a key role in India’s win. He scalped a five-for and also scored his sixth hundred in the Test format.

With an opportunity to level the series, the visitors will look to go with a full-strength squad with Shakib being one of the first names on the team sheet.

Bangladesh probable XI

Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana