Shakib uncertain for Pakistan T20Is

Shakib al Hasan, who is recovering from his hamstring injury that he sustained during Bangladesh's third game of the ICC T20 World Cup Super 12 stage against West Indies, is uncertain for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan at home starting from November 19.

The star all-rounder suffered a grade 1 hamstring strain and was ruled out from the last two Super 12 games for Bangladesh against South Africa and Australia respectively. 

He returned to the United States after that with Bangladesh playing their final two games of the marquee event without the 34-year-old. 

According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief physician Dr Debashish Chowdhury, it will take around three weeks for Shakib to recover. That means the ace all-rounder will probably miss the T20I series against Pakistan but is set to return for the two-match Test series that will start from November 26 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.

"Shakib will take at least three weeks to recover and get back to the field. He will be able to play the Test series [against Pakistan]," Debashish told the media before boarding the flight with the team from the Dubai International Airport today. 

Meanwhile, pace bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin could also miss the T20I series against Pakistan while wicketkeeper batter Nurul Hasan Sohan is expected to recover fully from his abdominal injury and be available for the whole series. 

"Saifuddin will have to stay away from the field for six weeks. There is no doubt regarding the availability of Nurul Hasan," he said. 

Saifuddin was ruled out of the T20 World Cup following Bangladesh's first Super 12 game against Sri Lanka due to a recurring back injury. Pacer Rubel Hossain had replaced the all-rounder in the squad. 

Nurul picked up his injury while batting in the nets ahead of the second game against England. Despite the pain, Nurul played the game against England but missed the rest of the matches of the flagship event. 

Bangladesh are scheduled to play the three T20Is against Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on November 19, 20 and 22 respectively. The first of the two-match Test series will begin on November 26. The second Test will be played in Mirpur from December 4.