Chattogram: Shakib Al Hasan, the ace Bangladesh all-rounder, tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, putting him out of the first Test against Sri Lanka, which begins on May 15 in Chattogram.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Shakib failed a PCR and a fast antigen test, which were required for him to join the team. Shakib was scheduled to join the Bangladesh Test team on Wednesday, only two days after the players began practising in Chattogram. He will now heal in self-isolation, according to a Bangladesh Cricket Board press release cited by the cricket website, and will be re-tested in due time.
The second and final Test will begin on May 23 at Mirpur. Shakib’s absence is a big setback for the hosts, who are also missing Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed, who were not included in the team owing to injury.
Bangladesh had previously picked all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain as Mehidy’s replacement. Shoriful Islam is in the Test squad, but he will have to pass a fitness test before the game.
Shakib will miss his sixth Test after playing one against Pakistan in December of last year. He missed the New Zealand series owing to personal circumstances, and subsequently had to miss the South Africa matches due to family sickness.
