Covid-infected Bangladesh Cricket Team All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan Out Of Sri Lanka Test | Cricket News

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Hasan tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday and was ruled out of this week’s first Test against Sri Lanka, the country’s cricket authorities said.

Shakib returned from the United States on Tuesday and underwent a PCR and a rapid antigen test as a prerequisite for joining the team ahead of the series.

“Both tests have returned positive results. He will now recover in self isolation and will be re-tested in due course. He has been ruled out of the first Test,” the Bangladesh Cricket Board said in a statement.

Sri Lanka’s cricket team is already in Bangladesh for the two-Test series, beginning at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong May 15.

The second Test will be held in Dhaka from May 23 to 27.

Shakib also missed Bangladesh’s previous Test series against South Africa due to a family emergency.

Earlier, in March, Shakib Al Hasan had initially told the selectors thats he was not in the right headspace for cricket.  Shakib has struggled with poor performance and made just 60 runs and five wickets in the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan before that.

He told the Bangladesh Cricket Board that he was “mentally fatigued and physically stressed” and withdrew himself from contention for the South Africa tour after being named to the squad.

Later, Shakib had a change of heart three days after he was rested from all formats until April 30, following a meeting with board president Nazmul Hassan in Dhaka.

The 34-year-old had been criticised by commentators following his sudden withdrawal, but Nazmul urged fans to show consideration to the national side.

“We have to remember that the senior players go through tremendous pressure,” he said.

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“We have to play 14 ODIs, 15 T20Is this year, and we have to play eight Tests as well. It’s tough for our senior players to play all these matches. We have to understand it,” he added.

Shakib told reporters that he had finalised a plan for him to compete over the next year, with the board to decide when he should be rested.