Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is set to travel to the United Arab Emirates on Monday evening as he continues his recovery from a bout of fever ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan.
Shanto was unable to take part in the cricket event at the Asian Games after falling ill. His condition has since improved, however, and Bangladesh are hopeful that he will recover sufficiently to feature in the Test, which begins in Abu Dhabi on 9 October.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that Shanto will leave for the UAE today. His arrival will come as the national side prepares for the Test with a two-day practice match against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai.
With Shanto absent, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz is leading Bangladesh in the practice game. The match is being used as an opportunity for the squad to adjust to the conditions in the UAE and sharpen their preparations before facing Afghanistan.
Bangladesh’s selectors remain optimistic about Shanto’s availability. Chief selector Habibul Bashar Suman recently said he expected the captain to be fit enough to play in the Test.
Suman explained that Shanto had been left physically weakened by the fever and had spent much of his time confined to his hotel while in Japan. His illness also affected his ability to eat properly because he was unable to go outside. According to Suman, Shanto is now feeling better and is in a generally good condition.
The timing of his recovery will be closely watched by the Bangladesh team management. As captain and a key member of the batting order, Shanto’s return would provide greater stability to the side before an important Test assignment. At the same time, his workload and fitness will have to be assessed carefully following his illness.
The Test against Afghanistan will be played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi from 9 to 13 October. It will be followed by a three-nation ODI series in the UAE involving Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.
The Test therefore represents the first major assignment of the UAE leg of Bangladesh’s tour, while the subsequent ODI series will give the teams an opportunity to build momentum across the limited-overs format. For Bangladesh, Shanto’s return would strengthen preparations as they look to make the most of a busy period across both formats.
