Neesham was originally scheduled to leave the BPL after Rajshahi’s match against Chattogram Royals on January 17 to join the national squad in India.
However, following a request from the Rajshahi management, he sought and received leave from New Zealand Cricket to play the remainder of the BPL season.
Rajshahi team head coach Hannan Sarkar confirmed the development and said Neesham himself showed interest in staying.
“When we asked Neesham if there was any way he could stay, he himself showed interest. But interest alone isn’t enough in the end, it’s national duty, and he was supposed to go. We all knew how important a player like Neesham is for us in that position, so we tried everything that was possible,” Sarkar said.
Neesham joined the BPL straight after playing for Dubai Capitals in the International League T20 and has featured in four matches for Rajshahi so far, against Rangpur Riders, Dhaka Capitals, Sylhet Titans and Chattogram. He has scored 30 runs and taken three wickets in the tournament.
By staying in the BPL, Neesham is set to miss at least two T20Is against India, New Zealand’s final series before the T20 World Cup. Rajshahi will face Chattogram in the first qualifier on January 20, and if they reach the final, Neesham will remain in Bangladesh until January 23.
Sarkar added that Neesham handled all the formalities himself. “All the remaining processes were handled by Neesham himself, communicating with his cricket board, arranging the NOC, everything. He told me that if Rajshahi reached the final, he would play that match and then leave,” he said.
