Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) added Hasan Murad to the Test squad for the first match of the two-Test series against South Africa, starting on October 21.

Hasan Murad, a left-arm spinner, replaces Shakib Al Hasan, who could not return home to play the match in Dhaka due to concerns for his safety from public anger.

Shakib was a member of the previous government toppled by the student movement in August.

The 23-year-old Murad has taken 136 wickets in 30 first class matches since his debut in 2021.

“We have been informed that Shakib is unavailable for the first Test,” Chairman BCB Gazi Ashraf Hossain, the chairman of the BCB selection committee, said. “He is at the end of his Test career, but along with his experience, we still do not have someone of that calibre with both bat and the ball to replace him.”

He also added that Hasan Murad’s first-class history indicates that he can do well at home as a spinner.

Bangladesh squad for Dhaka Test vs South Africa:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (WK), Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Hasan Murad,