Murad replaces Shakib in the Mirpur Test, Proteas' curiosity?

The Bangladesh-South Africa Mirpur Test is starting two days later. Shakib Al Hasan was named in the announced Bangladesh team for the first Test of the two-match series. However, Shakib's game became uncertain yesterday as he could not come to the country due to security threats.

BCB officially dropped Shakib from the Mirpur Test squad on Friday (October 18), replacing him with left-arm spinner Hasan Murad.

Earlier, South Africans were also confused about Shakib. Proteas have seen news about Shakib's return in social media, local and foreign press since he set foot in Dhaka. He asked the local officials who were with the South African team to know the news of Shakib. 'What is Shakib's update?', 'Will he come to the country?'—these are the questions local officials with the South African team had to face.

Today, however, the fog created about Shakib is supposed to disappear. The Proteas should also get their questions answered. BCB announced the team for Mirpur Test again.

Shakib was coming to Dhaka from the United States via Dubai for the Mirpur Test, which was to begin on October 21. His flight from Dubai to Dhaka was yesterday afternoon local time, scheduled to reach Dhaka at night. But due to the security threat, Shakib has been advised from Dhaka not to come to the country for the time being.

However, after getting BCB's green signal, the selectors kept Shakib in the Mirpur Test squad. BCBO also got a green signal from the government for Shakib. However, the situation changed tomorrow. Yesterday, a group under the banner of 'Students of Mirpur' took an anti-Shakib stand in front of the Mirpur Stadium.

On their behalf, a five-member delegation gave a memorandum to Major (Retd.) Hasibuzzaman, who is in charge of BCB's administration and security department. In the memorandum given to BCB president Farooq Ahmed, it was written that if Shakib is not dropped from the team, a strict program will be given on the day of the game. BCB President will have to take the responsibility if it has a negative impact on Bangladesh cricket. In the end, the Bangladesh team has to play the Mirpur Test without Shakib.

Earlier, Shakib announced his retirement from T20 and Test cricket on the day before the Kanpur Test of India tour. In that announcement, he said that the last match played in the T20 World Cup was his last in this edition. And wants to end his Test career with a match against South Africa in Mirpur. As he could not play the Mirpur Test, it cannot be confirmed whether the match against India in Kanpur will be Shakib's long-range cricket match or not.

Bangladesh squad for Mirpur Test:

Hossain (captain), Sadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Muminul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das (wicketkeeper), Zaker Ali, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Taijul Islam, Naeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana and Hasan Murad.