Ahead of the Dhaka Test against Pakistan starting on December 4, ace Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan joined the national team on Thursday. Shakib started practice alone a few days ago, but he needed to get tested for Covid-19 and return negative to join the national team. On Thursday afternoon, he practised with the team and later joined the team hotel. Shakib missed the first Test due to a hamstring injury that he sustained on October 29 against West Indies during the T20 World Cup. Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Shakib Al Hasan on his way to reach another milestone Bangladesh lost the first Test by eight wickets in Chattogram despite some wonderful displays by Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim and Taijul Islam. Liton hit his maiden Test ton, Mushfiqur posted 91, and Taijul, the left-arm spinner, scalped seven wickets. They were bettered by the fast bowlers of Pakistan- Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali, and Pakistan opener Abid Ali hits a century and posted 91 as well. The hosts suffered immensely in the first Test due to the lack of an extra bowler. That deficit might be negotiated well in the presence of Shakib who will also be a great option for batting. Bangladesh have four uncapped players in the Dhaka Test squad— Mohammad Naim, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shohidul Islam and Mahmudul Hasan Joy. Yasir Ali Rabbi was also uncapped ahead of the first Test, and the batter got his maiden cap in that match in Chattogram which is also his hometown. However, Bangladesh released  right-handed opener Saif Hassan, who was diagnosed with typhoid recently. BCB did not call any replacement for him. Along with Shakib, Bangladesh also included Taskin Ahmed for the Dhaka Test. The right-arm pacer played the T20I series, but he got injured and was ruled out of the first Test. Abu Jayed and Ebadot Hossain were in Bangladesh’s pace-bowling attack, but they failed to help the team properly. Read: ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2022: Five Bangladeshi Cricketers who could shine in New Zealand With this series, Bangladesh started the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. In the previous cycle, Bangladesh played a total of seven Tests and failed to win any of them. Pakistan team has also started preparation for the Dhaka Test. A few members of the Pakistan team including captain Babar Azam took part in an optional training session on Thursday. After this series, Bangladesh will tour New Zealand for a two-match series. The Tigers will fly for New Zealand on December 9.

Ahead of the first Test of the two-match series against Pakistan, Bangladesh took to practice in Chattogram’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Wednesday. On the same day morning, Pakistan also started their preparation for the first match in the Test series after sweeping the three-match T20I series that took place in Dhaka. Bangladesh are all set to start the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship with this series. In the previous Test Championship, Bangladesh played seven matches and lost six of them with only one draw. Both Bangladesh and Pakistan have already announced their respective Test squad for the current series. Bangladesh have included two new faces for this series— batter Mahmudul Hasan Joy and the right-arm pacer Rejaur Rahman Raja. Both have played wonderful cricket to deserve a place on the national side. Read: 'Heartbreaking': Mahmudullah on Tigers' T20I blowout v Pakistan The Tigers are looking forward to doing well in the Tests as the veteran batters Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das have returned to the national team after missing out on the T20Is. But Bangladesh are going to miss the service of Shakib Al Hasan in the first Test as the all-rounder is suffering from a hamstring injury. He might take part in the second Test in Dhaka scheduled to start on December 4. But star batter Tamim Iqbal will miss the series entirely as he needs more time to recover from injury and be fit to play in international match. The injured opener was expected to take part in the Test series. Right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed can’t also play as he injured his bowling arm just before naming the squad for the Test. Bangladesh squad for first Test against Pakistan: Mominul Haque (Captain), Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Abu Jayed Rahi, Yasir Ali, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Rejaur Rahman Raja.