Newly appointed Bangladesh Test captain Shakib Al Hasan believes that Mustafizur Rahman should not be forced to play in the longest format of the game. The left-arm pacer last played a Test for Bangladesh in February 2021 against the West Indies.
While the 26-year-old has been vocal about his reservations about playing Test cricket to prolong his career, he is part of the squad for the upcoming two-match series away from home.
Mustafizur agreed to return to Test cricket, despite not holding a contract for the calendar year, following a letter from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Ahead of the first Test at the Sir Vivan Richards Stadium in Antigua, Shakib told reporters:
"There is nothing to motivate. Because if Mustafizur prefers that he wants to play one day or T20 then I think we should respect that. As he is in the series and I am sure he is motivated to play these two matches and that is important for us. As a captain, I am focused with these two matches and he looked very motivated to play these two matches."
The series in the Caribbean will kick-start Shakib's third stint as the Test captain of the national team. The all-rounder was re-appointed as captain following Mominul Haque's resignation on May 31.
"In the long term, I am not sure what is in store" - Shakib Al Hasan on Mustafizur Rahman's future
The left-arm seamer has had an on-and-off stint with the national Test team. Since making his debut against South Africa in 2015, Msztafizur has played only 15 matches in a span of nearly seven years.
Apart from him, the visitors head into the tour with a pace bowling attack of Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed and Rahman Raja.
Claiming that the choice of the individual regarding the different formats of the game must be respected, Shakib said:
"But in the long term I am not sure what is in store and whether he wants to play Test or not but I think every player has individual preferences and choices and there is something like comfort zone and we must respect that,"
Bangladesh's tour of the West Indies will begin with a two-match Test series beginning on June 16 (Thursday). The teams are also scheduled to compete in three ODIs and as many T20I matches.
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