Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan has raised questions over former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan’s desire to skip international matches against South Africa. Previously, Shakib was not going to play the ICC World Test Championship series against the South African cricket team to make himself available for the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League.
However, none of the franchises bid for him at the IPL 2022 Mega Auction. Since Al Hasan went unsold, the Bangladesh Cricket Board picked him in their squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League series and the ICC World Test Championship series against the South African team. The series is set to begin on March 18 and end on April 12.
However, just before the departure, Shakib Al Hasan asked the BCB for a break from cricket because he is mentally and physically exhausted. Reacting to Al Hasan’s last-minute ask, Nazmul Hassan was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz:
“Would he have said the same thing if he was picked in the IPL? Would he have said that he is mentally exhausted?”
It is surprising to be honest: BCB chief gives his views on Shakib Al Hasan’s request
The BCB chief disclosed that the last time he spoke to Al Hasan, the all-rounder told him that he was ready to play for the Bangladesh cricket team. Thus, he was surprised to see him requesting a break at the last minute. He explained how last-minute requests like these impacted the team’s planning.
“It is surprising to be honest. I don’t know what he is saying now but his last conversation with me was in Chattogram where he said he would play and that’s all I know,” said Nazmul.
The first match of Bangladesh’s away series against South Africa will happen on March 18. It will be interesting to see if Shakib boards the flight to South Africa.
