Shakib Al Hasan set to play first Test match in one year, picked in Bangladesh squad for 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka

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Shakib Al Hasan has returned to the Bangladesh Test squad after a one-year hiatus due to an eye condition. He replaced Towhid Hridoy in the Bangladesh squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Chattogram from Saturday, March 30.

The veteran all-rounder last played a Test match against Ireland in Mirpur in April, 2023. Shakib Al Hasan's last international outing came back on November 6, 2023 when Bangladesh faced Sri Lanka in the league stage of World Cup 2023.

A BCB press release in January informed that Shakib had reported issues with his vision, and the allrounder visited an eye specialist in Singapore earlier the same month.

"Shakib has been complaining of subtle issues with his left eye," BCB senior physician Dr Debashis Chowdhury said. "After consulting ophthalmologists in Bangladesh and abroad and after multiple eye assessments, it was confirmed that he is suffering from extrafoveal Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSR) of the left eye.

"It has been decided that a conservative approach will be adopted for managing the issue for now. CSR is a condition that affects the retina, leading to visual disturbances. The medical team overseeing Shakib's case is optimistic about managing the condition effectively with a conservative approach."

However, Shakib Al Hasan played a few white-ball matches recently. After the 2023 World cup, the 36-year-old played in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for Rangpur Riders and two games for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in the ongoing Dhaka Premier Division League. He scored 19 runs and picked three wickets in the first match. In the second game, he scored 34 runs and scalped a wicket.

The other change in the squad is pace bowler Hasan Mahmud coming in for uncapped injured fast bowler Musfik Hasan. The 21-year-old hurt his left ankle and will require rehab. 24-year-old Mahmud has also not featured in a Test match, but has experience of playing 22 ODI and 17 T20I matches.

Sri Lanka are leading the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the opening match by 328 runs in Sylhet. The match saw Bangladesh getting bundled out for 188 and 182 in the two innings.

Bangladesh squad for second Test vs Sri Lanka

Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan, Shadman Islam, Litton Das, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud