Tigers peg hopes on Shakib return for Test lift

CHITTAGONG, Mar 29 (Agencies): Bangladesh were counting on the return of veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for a much-needed energy lift ahead of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka, stand-in coach Nic Pothas said Friday.
Sri Lanka thrashed Bangladesh by 328 runs in the first match of the series, with the hosts failing to post 200 in either innings.
Bangladesh face off Sri Lanka in the series-deciding second Test today (Saturday) at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Shakib is returning to the Test squad for the Chittagong match starting Saturday after more than a year's absence, and after being elected to the Bangladeshi parliament in January.
"I think any team that has Shakib in it is very fortunate. We welcome him back," Pothas told reporters.
"It is always great to have him in the change room. His energy is very infectious," he said.
"He has a lot of experience for the guys to learn from, and whenever Shakib is back, he's a giver. So we really enjoy having him around the group."
Pothas also defended Bangladesh's under-fire batsmen, saying the team was in the middle of a generational change.
"We have a very young and inexperienced group. There was a very elite group before this. Now we have to build," he said.
"The only thing that we request is that people be patient. These are very good young players, but they are young, and they're playing against an experienced team, and it will take time."
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva said he expected his side's top order batters to come good in Chittagong after failing to shine in the first Test.
"They had been performing well in the last few matches. I have no doubt that they will definitely perform in this match," he told reporters.
Citing Shakib as world class cricketer, Pothas said, the all-rounder has the ability to cope with the condition, no matter how long he was absent from International cricket.
Sri Lanka were untroubled in Sylhet despite losing Nishan Madushka for two and 10.
De Silva and fellow middle-order batsman Kamindu Mendis scored a century in each innings of the game, becoming only the third pair from the same country to do so in a Test.
Brothers Greg and Ian Chappell of Australia and Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali were the other two duos to make the feat.
Last of Shakib's five centuries came in 2017 against Sri Lanka, which was Bangladesh's 100th test. Courtesy to Shakib's century, Bangladesh won the test to make the occasion memorable but that remained the side's only test victory against Sri Lanka in 25 meetings.
Bangladesh in fact has never won a test against Sri Lanka at home despite playing 11 times.
Dhananjaya de Silva, who became first Sri Lankan captain to hit centuries in both innings of a Test during the first Test against Bangladesh was unfazed by Shakib's return as he is eyeing to have a winning end to the series.
Bangladesh:
Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Liton Das, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana
Sri Lanka:
Dhananjaya De Silva (Captain), Kusal Mendis (Vice Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and Chamika Gunasekara.