Dramatic turn of events ends Shakib Al Hasan’s hopes of playing in the first Test against South Africa

Shakib Al Hasan has been ruled out of the first Test against South Africa, and the BCB has announced left-arm spinner Hasan Murad as his replacement. Bangladesh Cricket Board’s selection committee head, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, backed Murad to perform well.

Shakib has been asked to wait in Dubai. The all-rounder was not sure of his playing in Bangladesh due to the protest against him in Dhaka. With the southpaw wanting to play his final Test at home, the selectors named him in the squad for the opening game in Dhaka. It seems he has been stopped from entering the country due to security issues.

The veteran has not traveled to Bangladesh since the fall of the Awami League’s government in August of this year.

Shakib was a Member of the Parliament of the ruling party and was named one of the accused in a murder during the protests. The interim government assured him that he would not be arrested upon his arrival in Bangladesh, but the BCB refused to provide him security.

“Shakib is not available for the first Test. Despite being at the end of his Test career, we don’t have a player like him. However, Hasan Murad has done well in domestic cricket, and I hope he performs against South Africa,” Gazi Ashraf Hossain said.

Murad has taken 136 wickets in 30 first-class matches.

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