Covid-19 rules Shakib out of first Test

Bangladesh suffered a major blow ahead of first Test against Sri Lanka, starting at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram from May 15, as all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19.

Shakib was due to join the Bangladesh squad in Chattogram today.

"As part of the Managed Event Environment (MEE) protocols for the series, Shakib underwent a PCR and rapid antigen test as a pre-requisite to joining the team. Both tests returned positive results today (Tuesday). He will now recover in isolation and will be re-tested in due course. He has been ruled out of the first Test," the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) informed in a statement yesterday.

It makes the task of forming a balanced team a more difficult task for Bangladesh team management, especially given that all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz had also been ruled out with a finger injury sustained during Dhaka Premier League (DPL) match. The selectors included off-spinner Nayeem Hasan as Miraz's replacement for the first Test.

"It's definitely a huge setback, especially after we lost another all-rounder. But it's the new reality and we have to accept it. We are not thinking about any replacement for Shakib because we have Taijul Islam and Nayeem in the team," selector Habibul Bashar told The Daily Star yesterday.

Bashar also warned that the news should serve as a wake-up call to anyone reluctant to maintain protocols. "This is a clear message to everybody. We cannot be reluctant when it comes to maintaining Covid-19 protocols," he added.