Najmul Hossain Shanto, the stand-in captain for the warm-up game against England, has announced that ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will play Bangladesh’s opening match in the ODI World Cup against Afghanistan on October 7.
After Shakib hurt his foot during a football practice prior to Bangladesh’s warm-up match against Sri Lanka on September 29, questions about his availability began to circulate. As a result, Shakib decided not to play in that game, which Bangladesh won thanks to Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s heroics.
According to Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan is “100% fine” and “will be available” for Bangladesh’s ODI World Cup opener against Afghanistan on October 7 in Dharamsala.
Given that Shakib is crucial to the team’s World Cup victory, Shanto’s most recent update is definitely reason for celebration for Bangladesh fans. His versatility and dependability make him a priceless asset, especially in light of Bangladesh’s underwhelming performance in the run-up to the competition.
Bangladesh’s recent history has not been free of difficulties. At the Asia Cup earlier this month, they were unable to get past the Super Four stage, but they were still able to end well by defeating India. They next played a three-match home series against New Zealand, experimenting with their roster, and ultimately losing the series 2-0.
During the Asia Cup, Shakib made a key contribution by scoring 80 runs in 85 balls and taking the crucial wicket of Suryakumar Yadav against India. His rejoining the group will undoubtedly provide the group some much-needed expertise and confidence.
Shakib’s availability is a ray of optimism for Bangladesh and its supporters as they anxiously anticipate the ODI World Cup and would be expecting the Tigers to put on a strong display on the big stage.
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