BAN vs AFG | Shakib Al Hasan to remain Test captain, attests Nazmul Hassan

09/12/2019

Bangladesh cricket chief Nazmul Hassan has made it clear that Shakib Al Hasan will continue to captain the team in Test cricket after the loss to Afghanistan. Recently the all-rounder had expressed his dislike for the format after Bangladesh faced an embarrassing defeat in Chittagong.

Earlier their week, Shakib Al Hasan had come forward to express his disinterest in leading the Bangladesh Cricket team stating that it is hampering his individual performance. BCB chief Hassan has now admitted the all-rounder has shown little enthusiasm for the longest format and that Monday's 224-run loss in the one-off Test has hampered his interest even further.

“We have noticed he did not have much interest in Test (cricket). You have seen that when we were touring foreign countries, he wanted to have a break during the Tests,” Nazmul told reporters in Dhaka, according to the Sportstar.

“Naturally he might have less interest. But we never heard that he has less interest in captaincy. If he is skipper, then he has to play. If you are not skipper, then you can skip,” he said.

Shakib had said in a press conference, after the game, said he no longer wanted to lead the Test after losing to the minnow team. However, Hassan said that he spoke to Shakib on Tuesday after the Afghanistan loss and apparently the Test skipper did not raise any concerns in front of him.

“Our boys are emotional. I will speak with him when things get calm,” said the BCB chief.

As a result, Shakib will now lead Bangladesh in a tri-nation T20I series involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, starting in Dhaka on Friday.