Bangladesh is anticipating the return of Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who is expected to fly to the United Arab Emirates on October 6. Shanto was previously ruled out of the Asian Games due to a persistent fever, leading him to miss the initial flight with his teammates to the UAE. Despite this setback, the national team leadership remains optimistic about his availability for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, scheduled to begin on October 9 at the Sheikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
BCB chief selector Habibul Bashar confirmed that the captain has not been ruled out of the contest. “I am hopeful that he will be available for the opening Test against Afghanistan,” Bashar told reporters on Friday, noting that he had consulted directly with the player. Addressing the health concerns, Bashar explained that while Shanto faced significant fatigue after falling ill in Japan, he is now on the road to recovery. “He hasn’t been ruled out yet and I’ve spoken with him. But now he’s feeling alright and overall he’s in good shape,” the selector added.
Medical examinations were conducted following the player’s return home, confirming a minor infection while ruling out both COVID-19 and influenza. The illness originally hampered his ability to maintain regular nutrition during his time in Japan, leaving the player physically weakened. However, with the Abu Dhabi Test set to run through October 13, officials are confident he will be match-fit. Which confirmed an infection, although he tested negative for influenza and COVID-19, the BCB conducted tests for his low-grade fever.
Following the conclusion of the Test, Shanto is also slated to participate in a crucial ODI tri-series involving Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, running from October 17 to 23. That tournament will commence in Abu Dhabi before shifting to Sharjah, where the captain is expected to play a central role in the squad’s performance.
