Shakib set to play SA Test series
AFP
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Ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan is set to play the away Test series against South Africa, confirmed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan Papon after finishing Afghanistan ODI series in Chattogram Monday. Tigers will play two-match Test series, scheduled in March-April.
Earlier today, BCB cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus said Shakib Al Hasan will meet with BCB boss "within the next couple of days" to discuss his Test plans. Shakib had already written to the BCB stating that he would not be available for Test cricket for the next six months, but things are unclear now after he went unsold at the IPL auction two weeks ago, according to Yunus.
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"As he is not playing in the IPL [this season] anymore, then I do not see any reason as to why he would not play Tests in South Africa. Shakib was available for the ODI series [against South Africa] anyway. And, now, as he will not be playing in IPL, he will definitely play the Test series as well," said Papon regarding the Shakib issue.
Last month, Shakib skipped the Test series against New Zealand, the third time he has taken a break from a series due to personal concerns. He took a leave of absence for the first time during the 2017-18 South African tour, and then he missed the Sri Lanka Tests last year owing to IPL commitments.
Shakib has only played 30 percent of Bangladesh's Tests since the 2017-18 South Africa series, owing to injury, his one-year suspension for failing to disclose a corrupt approach, and personal reasons.
Shakib, however, was scheduled to play in a three-match ODI series in South Africa before the Test series begins. The ODI series, which is part of the ICC World Cup Super League, will take place from March 18 to 23.
