IND vs BAN: Shakib Al Hasan signs for Foreign Team ahead of India Tests

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Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has signed with Surrey to gain valuable match practice ahead of Bangladesh's two-match series against India later this month.

Shakib is playing in Surrey's County Championship game against Somerset, which comes as part of his preparations for the upcoming challenges against India.

Surrey's decision to bring in Shakib was driven by the loss of eight players to England's national team for the final Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval. Surrey's Director, Alec Stewart, expressed his enthusiasm about securing Shakib's services, emphasizing that the move was prompted by the absence of key players, particularly their spinning all-rounders.

"When the opportunity to bring in a player of Shakib's calibre arose, it was an easy decision. We've been preparing for this scenario where several of our players would be away on England duty," Stewart said.

Shakib is equally excited about his brief stint with Surrey, highlighting the club's prestige and his desire to make a meaningful impact.

"Surrey is one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, and I am pleased to represent them, even if it's just for one game. This opportunity will help me prepare for the upcoming challenges against India," Shakib noted.

The match against Somerset has started on Monday and on the first day, the Bangladesh star has rolled his arms. The 37-year-old has bowled 20 overs so far on the first day of the county match, without any success.

The veteran all-rounder recently played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's historic 2-0 series victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi. While his batting contributions were modest, his bowling played a crucial role in securing the win.