Shakib set to be back in Bangladesh
|| CF DESK ||
Premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is set to be back in Bangladesh tonight [Monday] as he will land in Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport through Qatar Airways at 2:00 AM. Shakib on Saturday [March 20] came to a live session with Cricfrenzy and made many statements, questioned about BCB’s working process.
However, he will go to India through Bangladesh for IPL related work. A source confirmed Cricfrenzy.
Earlier, Shakib took paternity leave from the New Zealand tour to be with his pregnant wife and took off 22 February to USA. He became a father of baby boy in Madison city, Wisconsin, United States on 16th March.
After serving a one-year ban imposed by International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to report corrupt approach from the bookmakers, Shakib made a flying comeback to international cricket finishing as the man of the Series in the three-match ODI series against West Indies in January. The left-arm all-rounder had finished the series with 113 runs and six wickets in three matches.
Moreover, left-arm all-rounder Shakib was picked by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders for Indian Rupee 3.2 crores from the players’ auction held in February 18th.
After that Shakib has been on the receiving end of heavy criticism for his decision to participate in the upcoming season of money-spinning Indian Premier League T20 and skip Test matches for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka in April.
But during the live session with Cricfrenzy he cleared out about the matter.
"This issue (of me willing to play Test cricket) is being raised over and over again. No one read the letter which I gave to the BCB. Nowhere in that letter did I mention that I do not want to play Test cricket. I have mentioned that I want to play IPL for my better preparation for the World T20 (scheduled for later this year)” said Shakib.
“But Akram bhai [Akram Khan] has been saying I do not want to play Tests. He I think said this thing even (Friday) in an interview. I think he has not read the letter. They had taken the decision after discussion but I think he has not read the letter”
“I think it should be clear to the people after this regarding me not wanting to play Test cricket. My decision would have been the same even if we had ODI cricket in the schedule. I wanted to play the IPL so that I can prepare better. I will play the World T20 in the same ground where I will play IPL now, and against the same players. I will get better advantage compared to any other player in Bangladesh team, which will eventually help the team” Shakib explained.
BCB cricket operations chairman Akram Khan countered about misinterpreting Shakib's statement about officials didn’t read his letter properly about playing IPL instead of playing Test series against Sri Lanka next month.
On Monday, Akram said the board will soon meet for a meeting where they can rethink on Shakib’s NOC to participate in IPL T20 set to begin next month.
"We will rethink about his NOC. If he is interested to play Test, then he shall be part of the squad and travel to play in Sri Lanka. And about the rest (of what Shakib said against the board and its directors) we will decide on what we can do” Akram informed.
