BCB tries to get Shakib back to cricket with international games on Sri Lanka tour
image:- BCB
|| CF Correspondent ||
The upcoming tour of Bangladesh in Sri Lanka will most likely be the comeback series for premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan as Shakib will be free from year-long suspension by International Cricket Council (ICC) on October 29.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is now trying to include him and play the series for which they are doing their best so he can at least play the scheduled Test series.
Though Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka is all but confirmed, the tour schedule is not shaping up yet because Bangladesh are trying to keep Shakib in most of the games that he can play after his suspension period is over.
Shakib will train at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) from next month when the team management will keep an eye on his progress towards full fitness for the international comeback.
Apart from management, head coach Russell Domingo said Shakib’s return will bank on his fitness levels for which he has to possibly play some matches.
However, Domingo compared Shakib’s year-long corona-enforced break from cricket with the current Bangladesh players also having had to sit out for six-seven months without any on-field action due to the highly contagious virus.
“I think Shakib being out for a year is not that much different to the rest of our squad who have been out for six or seven months as well,” said Russell Domingo.
“We’re hoping all the players are fit. Obviously, there are standards that they need to attain in terms of fitness level. We have to organize a bit of game time for Shakib, as well as for all the players. It’s very difficult to get into international cricket without any sort of cricket,” Domingo told ESPNcricinfo.
“I think we need to try to find some opportunities for him to play some games. He is a world-class player so I’m sure he’ll get back into it pretty soon, but fitness is an important thing,” he added.
Domingo, however, said Shakib has to make sure first of his fitness for which he has to play unofficial cricket matches as a suspended cricketer.
He also said the next couple of months are very important for him because a lot would depend on his fitness and net practice.
“It’s something that we have to discuss with the selectors. I don’t think he can play any official game before October 29. And so, all games that he plays have to be unofficial games. It might be inter-squad games but we need to have clarity if he is allowed to play that,” he said.
“He has to make sure he is fit and that he starts hitting balls and bowling some balls. Once we assemble before heading off to Sri Lanka - when that tour is confirmed - we will get closer to making a decision. There's still a while to go; it is only August now. His ban finishes in two-and-a-half months. When he is fit and available, we’ll cross that bridge,” he added.
In addition, the schedule of the Test series and the proposed three-match T20I series has not been finalized yet. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief executive officer (CEO) Mohan de Silva admitted the matter, stating that the two boards have reached an agreement on Bangladesh’s departure date but they are still in discussions over whether it’ll be a two or three-match Test series.
