Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan faces an anxious wait to play the first Test against India, starting on Wednesday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here as he struggles with his rib and shoulder injury.
He got hit on his rib during the second ODI against India by a bouncer of speedster Umran Malik. He thereafter had undergone an X-ray which revealed nothing serious and was allowed to play the third ODI.
However the pain didn't subside, forcing him to cancel the practice session for the first Test.
He then went for another scan on the injured place today and the doctor made him sure that everything is so far okay. Shakib later practiced batting session for 20 minutes.
Head coach Russell Domingo hoped that Shakib, the highest wicket-taker of Bangladesh in longer version format will play the first Test and lead the side from the front.
"We are still assessing him. We will make a call later in the afternoon. We hope he is okay. He is still struggling with his ribs and shoulder. Hopefully he can go through hitting some balls now," Domingo said about Shakib.
While Shakib is highly likely to play, fast bowler Taskin Ahmed was given rest to recover fully from his old back pain.
Taskin missed the first two ODIs but returned to the third match in which he was wayward and clearly looked not fit enough. Considering his physical condition, he was ruled out of the first Test.
"We are not going to risk Taskin in the first Test. He has come off a layoff and few injections. To get him to bowl for day and a half in these conditions in Chattogram may not be good for him," Domingo added.
