(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Bangladesh will have to play without their skipper Shakib Al Hasan in both the warm-up matches and probably even in their first fixture of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, starting on October 5th
Bangladesh will lock horns with England in the warm-up fixture of the upcoming World Cup on October 2 in Guwahati. On October 7, they will face Afghanistan in their first World Cup game in Dharamsala.
Shakib, the Bangladesh captain and star all-rounder, has reportedly sustained a foot injury while playing football in a practice session and is likely to miss the mentioned games as a precautionary measure. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was seen at the toss in today’s match against Sri Lanka.
However, official confirmation is still awaited from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding the southpaw’s injury. The 36-year-old Shakib has played 240 ODIs for Bangladesh, scoring 7,384 runs with an average of 37.67, and has also taken 308 wickets with his effective left-arm orthodox bowling.
Even without their skipper, Bangladesh gained a comfortable victory over Sri Lanka in their first practice game, winning by seven wickets.
Shakib’s stats are unmatched as the all-rounder is an incredibly important asset for his team. As the World Cup approaches, almost every team has injury concerns. Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, and Travis Head are included in the squads of their respective teams but could miss a few matches. Naseem Shah, Axar Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Anrich Nortje are some of the players, who missed the bus for the 2023 World Cup due to injuries.