Sean Abbott ‘must be included’ in the squad for the first Test against India: Mehrab Hossain

Mumbai: Former Bangladeshi opener Mehrab Hossain believes that Sean Abbott "must be included" in the Australian team to play the first Test against India, commencing in Adelaide on Tuesday.

Abbott and Mehrab Hossain (also known as Opee) are sailing in the same boat. The 22-year-old all-rounder Abbott's short-pitched delivery felled Phillip Hughes last month while Mehrab Hossain's pull shot had sadly ended Raman Lamba's life 16 years ago.

"My advice to Abbott is to play the Test as it would help him to overcome the grief. It will be worst if he doesn't play and stay at home", Mehrab said over the phone from Dhaka.

Cricket Australia (CA) has allowed the players to decide to skip the first Test due to Phil Hughes' tragic death in recent past.

Meheab says, "Playing in the Test at the earliest will benefit Abbott in longer run to come out from the depression. It will make him stronger because no negative words have been said against this bowler by anyone and he has received support from all over.”

“The Australian players are thorough professionals, mentally strong and can perform well,” believes 37-year-old Mehrab.

These players have been counselled by psychologists to come out from the shock. "I got support from the BCB officials but we had no professionals at that time when Raman Lamba incident happened. I was able to play the Club game two weeks after Lamba's death as there was no Test status given to our team then.”

He played in the inaugural Test in 2000 and went on to represent the national team in nine Tests and 18 ODIs.