|| CF DESK ||

Bangladesh coach Nic Pothas was delighted to have ace allrounder Shakib al Hasan back in the team after a long hiatus, stating his presence will bolster the team's performance.

Shakib who opted out of the white-ball series due to an eye problem was included in the team for the upcoming Test match. The coach expressed satisfaction with Shakib's fitness and wants him to perform happily against Sri Lanka. 

“I think any team that has Shakib in it is very fortunate. We welcome him back. It is always great to have him in the change room. His energy is very infectious. He has a lot of experience for the guys to learn from and whenever Shakib is back, he's, he's a giver. So we really enjoy having him around the group,” said Pothas.

“It's great to see him. He seems to have lost weight. His BPL went well also the Dhaka Premier League was well well. He is happy, and we also want Shakib to be happy,” he said.

PotHAs did not directly address the question of how many bowlers the Bangladesh team will play with, but Shakib's return will naturally bolster the team. 

“We will take this decision tomorrow morning. When Shakib is in the team, there is a stability in the team. Shanto will also get someone, who can give advice. He is a very experienced player, a world-class player,” he said.

When asked about how Shakib's Test batting might be after a long break, Pothus responded by saying, "As the professional cricketer he is, he knows what he has and hasn't done. He will adapt to the conditions. That's why he is world class,"