All-rounder Sakib al Hasan returned to competitive cricket when he played for the Under-19 side against Bangladesh A team during the two-day practice match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday. Bangladesh Cricket Board reduced Sakib’s six-month ban imposed on him on July 7 and announced that he will be available for national duty and domestic cricket from September 15. However, Sakib could not contribute heavily on Day One. He scored only 11 runs before a sharp outside edge was taken at slip by Farhad Hossain as he played a defensive shot against a swinging delivery from pace bowler Mohammad Shahid.
Bangladesh A team were trailing by 189 runs as they were 21-0 in seven overs when the stumps were drawn after dismissing the U-19 side for 210 runs in 76.1 overs.
The BCB allowed him to practise with the Bangladesh A team members immediately after the sanction was shortened and Sakib seized the opportunity to have some much-needed match practice ahead of the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Sakib was a last-minute inclusion in the Asian Games squad as he was drafted in for Sohag Gazi, who was reported for suspect bowling action in the second one-day international of the three-match series against West Indies.
-With New Age input
