Shakib to face Somerset in county clash

After a historic series win over Pakistan, Shakib Al Hasan has headed straight to England, skipping a return home.

The all-rounder is set to play for Surrey in a four-day County Championship match, taking place tomorrow (18 August) in Taunton, where they will face Somerset in a highly anticipated encounter.

Leading the batting will be experienced Test cricketers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley. Burns, who has 32 Test matches under his belt, is also the captain of the side and was in excellent form in Surrey's last match, where he scored an impressive 161 against Nottinghamshire. Sibley, with 22 Test caps, will join him at the top of the order.

The middle order will feature Will Jacks, a regular in England's T20 lineup, who contributed 59 runs in Surrey's previous outing. Ben Foakes, the former England wicketkeeper-batsman, is also part of the team.

Although he was dropped from the national side earlier this year, he remains a key player for Surrey. Meanwhile, Indian sensation Sai Sudharsan, who hit a century in Surrey's last game, will be absent due to commitments with India 'C' in the Duleep Trophy.

On the other side, Somerset will present a formidable challenge. Veteran spinner Jack Leach, who has 36 Test appearances for England, will spearhead their bowling attack.

Craig Overton, a pace bowler with eight Test caps, will be another major threat. Somerset's lineup also features Archie Vaughan, son of former England captain Michael Vaughan, who made his first-class debut recently. Tom Banton, a dynamic player who has represented England in both ODIs and T20s, will be key to their batting, alongside Tom Abell, who is fresh off a 124-run knock in his last match for Somerset.

For Shakib, this match will bring back fond memories of Taunton. He scored a memorable century on this ground during the 2019 World Cup in a match against the West Indies.

The venue holds special significance for the Bangladeshi star, who has a wealth of experience in county cricket. Shakib first made his county debut in 2010 with Worcestershire, where he had an outstanding start, scoring 90 runs on the opening day of a four-day match against Derbyshire, his highest score in county cricket.

His time in county cricket has been nothing short of impressive. Shakib is the only Bangladeshi player to have participated in every format of county cricket, making him a standout among his peers. In the 2010 season, he recorded the third and tenth-best bowling figures in the second division, with remarkable performances of 7/32 and 6/42. Shakib also registered the best match figures for Worcestershire that season, taking 8/102, and his dominance with the ball extended to the 40-over format, where he posted the team's best figures of 4/32.

Shakib's participation in the County Championship is a key part of his preparation ahead of Bangladesh's upcoming tour of India. The Bangladesh team is set to depart on 15 September for a two-Test and three-T20 series, and Shakib will join them directly after his stint in England.

As he gears up for tomorrow's clash, all eyes will be on the star all-rounder, who will look to add another successful chapter to his county cricket journey.