The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is awaiting a medical assessment of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto before making a final decision on his participation in the one-off Test against Afghanistan.

Shanto returned to Bangladesh from Japan after suffering from viral fever during the Asian Games. Although he has now recovered, the team’s medical staff are monitoring whether he has regained enough fitness to cope with the demands of a five-day Test match.

Chief selector Habibul Bashar Sumon said the decision will be taken by the medical team. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Bashar said, “Shanto is now fit. The doctors will gradually assess the extent of his weakness.”

He also made it clear that the selectors will not make the final call on Shanto’s availability.

“The decision is not ours. It is a matter for the medical team. Hopefully, a decision will be made within the next one or two days,” Bashar said.

Shanto was part of Bangladesh’s T20 squad at the Asian Games but returned home after suffering from fever for several days in Nagoya. His influenza and COVID-19 tests came back negative, but he was withdrawn from the squad as a precaution following the viral infection.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Test squad has already arrived in the United Arab Emirates for the upcoming tour. The Tigers will begin the tour with a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi on October 9, followed by a tri-series involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

Shanto has already resumed training. The medical team is expected to make a decision soon after assessing whether he is physically ready to handle the workload of a Test match.