Bangladesh Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to Miss West Indies Test Series

Reason for Absence

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim will miss the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies due to injuries.

Shanto suffered a groin strain during the second One Day International against Afghanistan. In contrast, Rahim, a veteran of 94 Tests, suffered a finger injury during the first ODI against Afghanistan in Sharjah last week.

Captaincy and Replacement

This means both players will be unavailable for the two Test matches in the Caribbean, the first of which will be bowled off on November 22 in Antigua.

In Shanto’s absence, Mehidy Hasan Miraz takes over as captain, while Shahadat Hossain, the 22-year-old right-hand top-order batter, has been named his replacement.

Injury Update

“We have received the team physio’s report and the scan report, which has confirmed a Grade II strain on his left groin,” BCB senior physician Dr Debashis Chowdhury said in a statement.

“This will require a period of rest and rehabilitation. We will reassess his condition after two weeks. He will return home from the UAE to continue his rehab.”

Player Profiles

Hossain has played four Tests after debuting against New Zealand last year and has an average of 14.75 with a highest score of 31.

He was dropped for the home Tests against South Africa in October and has averaged 26.33 in four matches in the National Cricket League, including a century in his last game.

Squad Announcement

Bangladesh have also left out Khaled Ahmed and Nayeem Hasan but will welcome Litton Das back after the wicketkeeper-batter missed the second Test against South Africa in Chattogram and the three ODIs against Afghanistan due to fever.

Bangladesh will start the tour with a four-day warm-up game at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, followed by the first Test.

The second Test is in Jamaica, starting November 30.

The visitors will then play three ODIs and as many T20Is, but their white-ball squad hasn’t been announced yet.

Conclusion

Najmul Hossain Shanto’s absence due to injury is a significant blow to Bangladesh’s Test team, and it will be interesting to see how they perform without their captain. The team will need to regroup and refocus under the leadership of Mehidy Hasan Miraz.