"Someone is waiting to take his place"- Bangladesh selector opens up on Shakib Al Hasan's future in international cricket

Bangladesh selector Abdur Razzak has said the selection committee is willing to wait for veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to retire from international cricket. However, he added that players outside are waiting to take his place.

The 37-year-old has struggled across formats with bat and ball this year. Shakib averages under 20 with the willow and almost 40 with the ball in international cricket this year. The star all-rounder endured an underwhelming performance in Bangladesh's first Test defeat to India a few days back in Chennai.

Shakib scored 57 runs across the two innings while conceding 129 runs at an economy of over 6 without picking up a wicket. In an interview with the PTI on Wednesday, September 25, Razzak said:

"Someone is waiting to take his place. Definitely, there are some players, but I would say that it is Shakib's call. Whenever he feels he (has played) enough, we will welcome him. (But there is) nothing much to say (right now), because a player like him, he was (in the) last 15 years (the) No. 1 all-rounder in the world, so I can't say that he is not good anymore so we don't want him."

He added:

"We always want him, but at the same time, you have to leave at some stage. So, we are waiting for Shakib's decision (and) I am sure he will take the right decision. Shakib (and) Mushfiq, you can't get players like them instantly. As soon as they leave cricket, you can't get them (replaced) because Shakib took 20 years to reach his place, Mushfiq took similar (number of years)."

The all-rounder has played almost two decades since making his debut in international cricket in 2006. He is Bangladesh's third-leading scorer across formats with 14,721 runs and their leading wicket-taker with 708 wickets.

---

"India, in my opinion, is the No 1 Test team at the moment" - Abdur Razzak

Abdur Razzak admitted Bangladesh didn't play well in the first Test at Chennai but also said that India are the best Test side in world cricket.

Bangladesh were coming off the high of defeating Pakistan in the Test series in Pakistan by a 2-0 margin. However, they surrendered meekly to India in the opening Test by a massive 280 runs.

"We didn't play that well against India. But you know, India, in my opinion, is the No 1 Test team at the moment. They have the bowling strength, batting strength and fielding as well. We are not looking back, that is past (Pakistan series win), that is gone, we are looking forward to the next Test match and I would say that (the) Pakistan win will change our cricket, definitely," said Razzak.

Bangladesh will look to end the series on level terms when the second and final Test starts in Kanpur on Friday, September 27.