BCB President Questions Shakib Al Hasan; Refuses South Africa Tour

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, Nazmul Hassan, questions veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s commitment to the national team after his assertion that he needs time off international cricket. Last week, he was named in Bangladesh’s ODI and Test squads for the tour of South Africa.

The three-match ODI series between Bangladesh and South Africa begins on 18^th March which will be followed by two Tests, starting on 30^th March.

Shakib Wants Break From International Cricket

But as we all know IPL will start from 26^th March 2022, so in order to make himself available for the IPL, he withdrew his name from the Test squad. However, he went unsold in the IPL auction.

Now he doesn’t want to play the ODIs also.  The veteran all-rounder said he’s feeling burdened amid regular international cricket, and that a break would help him rejuvenate. After this statement, the BCB president was agitated.

“I think it is logical to think that if he was in a poor physical and mental state, he wouldn’t have given his name in the IPL auction,” said Nazmul Hassan. “But he went ahead with it. So, does it mean that if he got his IPL contract, he would have said the same thing?”

Nazmul Hassan said BCB doesn’t mind Shakib taking a break from cricket. But he shouldn’t do this at the last minute.

Shakib-Al-Hasan, Image courtesy of myKhel

Shakib said, “Considering my mental and physical state, I don’t think I can play so much international cricket. If I get a break, if I get my interest back, I can play with more ease. I was like a passenger in the Afghanistan series, which is never desirable.”

He also added that he wants to play the game with full interest. Moreover, he doesn’t want to disappoint the fans by playing when he is mentally disturbed, which would lead to the non-fulfillment of fans’ expectations.

This is not the first time Shakib refrain from going on a tour.  In 2017, he wanted six months to break from Test cricket citing tiredness and a need to rejuvenate himself.

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