Political unrest in Bangladesh forces Shakib al Hasan to miss farewell Test series vs South Africa

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Hasan Murad has replaced all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for their first Test against South Africa next week, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said on Friday. Shakib had earlier said he was almost certain he will not return home for a farewell test following public anger over his silence during deadly protests in the country.

Shakib was a member of parliament for the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year rule as prime minister ended in August with her fleeing to India.

Shakib, 37, apologised for his silence last week and asked fans to be present for his final Test at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

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He has not been home since protests erupted in July but the BCB had assured him he will not be harassed on his return for the test in Mirpur, which starts on Monday.

The BCB said 23-year-old Murad, who has taken 136 wickets in 30 first-class matches since his debut in 2021, will replace Shakib in the squad.

"We have been informed that Shakib is unavailable for the first test," the BCB said in a statement. "He is at the end of his Test career but along with his experience, we still do not have someone of that calibre with both bat and the ball to replace him.

"However, Hasan Murad has performed consistently in first class cricket and has been in our system. He will lend balance to our bowling, especially in home conditions. We believe he has the potential to deliver at this level."

Bangladesh chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain had said in a press conference on Wednesday they had not received any further instructions from the BCB or the cricket operations committee.

"It is a paused status at the moment. He is in transit in Dubai," Ashraf Hossain added.

Shakib is considered the greatest cricketer Bangladesh has ever produced but his political past places the former captain in a tricky position as an interim government supervises a power transition.

Shakib announced his intention to retire from tests in September.

He played 71 tests, 247 One-Day Internationals and 129 Twenty20 Internationals, amassing 14,730 runs and claiming 712 wickets to establish himself as one of the leading all-rounders of his era.

Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque Showrab, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Kumer Das (WK), Zaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana and Hasan Murad

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