Agency :
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan leads an unsettled Bangladesh side into the first Test against the West Indies today seeking to recapture the glory of his captaincy debut 13 years ago.
In 2009 Shakib replaced the injured Mashrafe Mortaza as skipper for the second Test in Grenada and played a critical role in taking his team to 2-0 series sweep against a depleted West Indies side.
Now it is the Bangladeshis who appear ill at ease and Shakib’s rehabilitation as Test captain was complete once Mominul Haque’s slump in batting form meant he could no longer continue in the role and veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim opted out of the Caribbean campaign.
The West Indies have been inconsistent since coming away from Bangladesh at the start of 2021 with an unexpected 2-0 series triumph, but go into the series as favourites having beaten England earlier this year.
They will be buoyed by memories of Bangladesh’s last visit to Antigua in 2018 when the visitors were routed for just 53 on the first morning on the way to innings defeats in both Tests of the series.
The West Indies captain then was Jason Holder who was replaced by Kraigg Brathwaite for the campaign in Bangladesh 17 months ago after Holder opted out citing fatigue and Covid 19 concerns.
Holder is again absent having been granted leave by Cricket West Indies which paves the way for Raymon Reifer to get another Test opportunity. West Indies are certain to field at least two debutants as their 12-man squad features three uncapped players — fast-medium bowler Anderson Phillip, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and wicketkeeper-batsman Devon Thomas. Phillip is one of four players in the squad returning from the three-match one-day international tour of Pakistan which ended on Sunday, along with fellow pace bowlers Jayden Seales and Alzarri Joseph, and all-rounder Kyle Mayers.
