Shakib Al Hasan has been going through a challenging period lately. His form on the cricket field has been inconsistent for quite some time, and recently, he also lost his position as a Member of Parliament following the fall of the government.

In addition to these setbacks, Shakib has been embroiled in several controversies, making headlines for the wrong reasons. All in all, it has been a tough time for him. As Bangladesh prepare for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan, many are eager to see how Shakib will perform.

Shakib has been practicing with the team in Pakistan since joining them, and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has noticed some positive changes in him during training. When asked at a press conference if he had observed any differences in Shakib, Hathurusingha responded, “He [Shakib] is actually batting well. He has looked fitter. He has done some eye testing as well. He is saying that it helped him with the problem he had.”

Hathurusingha also spoke positively about spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed, who works closely with Shakib and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. "I know Mushy [Mushtaq]. We met in 1988. That's how old we are. He has fitted into the coaching group really well. He has a lot of experience working with England and Pakistan. He has a lot of local knowledge and experience from other parts of the world. Not just bowling, we take his advice in certain decisions.”

The first Test of the two-match series between Pakistan and Bangladesh will begin on August 21 in Rawalpindi.