Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has finally returned at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) for the first time on Monday since serving a one-year ban handed by the ICC last year. After arriving from USA on November 5, he was supposed to undergo beep test in order to prove his fitness but it was postponed for the time being.
The former Bangladesh skipper came to the field exactly after 376 days. After arriving at the SBNCS, Shakib spent some time in the gym, went to his favourite dressing room and met some of his teammates. He discussed with physio Julian Calefato after arriving at the stadium but did not undergo the beep test on Monday.
However, he left the field without a fitness test.
With the five-team Bangabandhu T20 tournament looming, there was a fitness test for the cricketers outside the national team and HP team. Shakib was also supposed to test with them. However, the country's best cricketer did not take part in the beep test to check his fitness.
Trainer Tushar Kanti Hawladar said that Shakib postponed the test as his body was not fully prepared. He will give a separate beep test on Wednesday.
Shakib last visited Home of Cricket SBNCS on the evening of October 29, 2019. But the context of the day was completely different. The atmosphere was different. He came to the BCB office in a very gloomy mood after receiving a one-year ban from all forms of cricket. That thay, the biggest hero of Bangladesh cricket came out expressing remorse for his mistake. After that he did not set foot in the SBNCS field.
Due to the ban, he didn't even have a chance to come on the field for a year. After all the chaos, Shakib is now free from that shackle and is back to his most suited place.
80 cricketers were going to undergo fitness tests in Mirpur on Monday. The test was scheduled for 20 people in four groups from 10 am to 1 pm.
In all likelihood, Shakib will take the field during the T20 tournament arranged by the BCB. The players' draft will take place on November 12, which gives Shakib some time to assess his fitness.
